From a ‘grown-up gymnast’: Benefits of competing last into adulthood

The world of competitive sports has many benefits to a growing child, and gymnastics is a prime example. Gymnastics is not an easy sport, and many that compete will tell you it is downright difficult. Because of this, competitive gymnasts are known to be dedicated, hardworking, physically strong young adults. There are so many more benefits to becoming a competitive gymnast. So many times I have been asked, “What did gymnastics teach you?” What I really learned in gymnastics was not how to physically perform a skill, but rather lessons that carried well beyond my competitive years.

Mental toughness and grit

During the days of long practices and hard conditioning, I challenged my body physically. I grew in physical strength and was asked to perform a multitude of strength and flexibility tests that would challenge me to my limits, most of which I would no longer be able to perform. However the mental fortitude it took to accomplish those daunting tasks still remains. I learned at a young age that it was more about utilizing the mental strength that one gains to overcome the physical challenge of gymnastics. During the challenging moments is when I learned the most about myself as a person, and became more emotionally aware. Learning how to pinpoint what I was feeling, why I was feeling that way, and what needed to be done to change the feeling has brought me through my hardest adult moments.

Confidence and security

The toughest days in the gym are when I learned the most. Gymnastics is a sport where the athletes don’t typically learn a new skill every day, and many times it takes time to really accomplish a new skill. Great coaches are able to help a child recognize the small changes and accomplishments that lead to bigger successes. With every small success, I learned to recognize my personal uniqueness and accomplishments which built my confidence. When I was confident in my own unique strengths and skills, I was secure enough to celebrate those around me. When a teammate succeeded, I was able to feel joy over their accomplishment and it didn’t take away from my own personal confidence.

Diverse friendships

Competitive gymnastics draws individuals from all backgrounds and locations. The girls on the team at the YMCA make up a variety of eight different school districts in the area. Most these girls would have never crossed social or school settings but have been placed in each other’s life here. Those tough nights at the gym teach us to lean on those close to us. The girls encourage each other through fears and struggles, celebrate each other’s victories and form deep meaningful relationships with each other which can last a lifetime.

Practical life lessons

I would not be doing justice to the sport if I didn’t talk about the practical life lessons that I learned through everyday practice. I learned that accountability and responsibility mean I had to work hard even if no one was watching me. I learned that the only way to succeed in the sport was to be disciplined not only in my work ethic, but also in my mental game. Being disciplined also meant managing and prioritizing my time which is valuable throughout school, college, and in the workplace. I was taught that it wasn’t good enough to set a goal, but I had to put in place the small steps that will get me to that goal and then celebrate the accomplishment. The hardest but most practical lesson that gymnastics taught me was how to communicate. I used to be an extremely shy insecure girl that would rather have a staring contest with her coach than to have a crucial conversation, that tactic got me nowhere fast. Learning about how to discuss your feelings and vulnerabilities is something that has helped me in not only my personal life but also in a professional setting.

Jen Bain is the Senior Program Director overseeing Aquatics and Gymnastics at the Fitton Family YMCA. During her youth, she competed as a Level 10 gymnast for a private gym, earning her a full scholarship for gymnastics to college. Earning a bachelor of science degree from Northern Kentucky University in recreation and fitness, Jen’s coaching career began 15 years ago and progressed to overseeing various competitive gymnastics teams and programs in Cincinnati area.