Gymnastics: Am I too old for olympics? & If I go back, what level would I be?

Question

I started gymnastics when i was 2, and I did it until I was twelve (10 years). I retired as a two year level 7 gymnast. I had to retire because of an ankle problem I needed to grow out of. I am 15 soon going to be 16 and ever since i quit gymnastics I have been doing dance. (Ballet, Hip Hop, Break dancing, contemporary). I miss gymnastics a lot! & I'm so angry at myself for quitting, so I'm going to try to go back. I can still do round off back-handspring layout (& tuck) on floor, which is definitely high enough for a full, front handspring etc. On beam i can still do a back & front tuck dismount, a back-handspring, full 1/2 turn, back-walkovers, front-walkover, and wolf/split jump. I have no idea what i can still do on bars. & I'm assuming i can still do my front handspring on vault, maybe a half on or off. I'm going in to be evaluated on thurs w the level 7 & 8 gymnasts. I'm worried I won't have any bar stuff. Am I too old for the olympics even though I will train my hardest and always my best and correct every mistake? & If I go back, what level would I most likely start at?

Answer 1

You're 15. You can do anything you want to do and don't let anyone tell you that you can't. There are people competing in this Olympics with less than 4 years of experience. There are people competing in these games with more than 20 years of experience. Oksana Chusovitina just won silver in women's vault at 33. If she can do it, you can too.

You can do it if you really want to. That's the only limit you have. The difference between an Olympic champion and a good athlete is desire. How far are you willing to go?

Every time I see these games I wish I would have stuck with something. I don't know if I have the type of mindset to get me to that level but at 24, even I still have a chance. Do it now, while you can because it only gets harder as you get older—but not impossible. Responsibility and other things can get in the way.

Even if you don't have the drive to make it to the Olympics, why not return to gymnastics. It's obviously something you love to do. Why aren't you doing what you love?