Final Project #3

Gymnastics is more than a sport; it’s a way of life. Once your heart gets set in gymnastics, there’s no turning back. Gymnastics is a sport that we don’t really hear or see much of. People know about gymnastics, but never think much of it. Even though it isn’t advertised quite often, the gymnastics community is large. Once you start going to meets, you will soon become very close with other gymnasts, since they are technically your enemies. Because gymnastics takes so much training, girls that are involved with the sport make it their whole life. They spend a ton of time at the gym and a ton of time traveling to the meets. The teammates also end up becoming best friends and family. Even though these girls see each other everyday at practice, they still end up hosting sleepovers and parties. From the many years I’ve been in gymnastics I have realized that all gymnasts have many similarities. Gymnasts live for getting rips and calluses on their hands from swinging on the uneven bars. They live for going to meets and earning a medal for their routines in which they spent hours critiquing. Competing sometimes even meant a new leotard or glitter, which some girls loved! Appearance is very important in gymnastics, since you are being judged on how you look. It’s all about the way you show off! Gymnastics is not only fun and games, but also an important learning experience. Gymnastics teaches an individual many qualities someone normally wouldn’t think. I think gymnastics, more than any other sports, gets your body the physical fitness it needs. Gymnasts gain positive qualities such as improved self-esteem, coordination and teamwork. Gymnasts learn to set goals and do what they have to do to meet those goals. Another thing all gymnasts have in common is a saying we stand by: “if gymnastics were easy, it would be called football.”