Quitting Gymnastics by Zola

Quitting Gymnastics by Zola - September 2022 Scholarship Essay

Gymnastics was my life from the age of 1 until 16, and the end was abrupt and painful. If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, it would be to quit gymnastics after I completed Level 5. The reason why I would give myself that advice is because I got injured and am still dealing with the effects of the injury. I did not have a particular bad fall or anything, just the daily abuse on my body has taken its toll. By the age of 16, my hips were in constant pain and I have spent so much time and effort in doctors, physical therapist, chiropractor’s... offices. With all this no one has been able to identify the source of my pain, they all acknowledge that it exists and have different solutions but none seem to help. I have been dealing with the pain now for about four years, and at times it eases up but never goes away and most of the time I am focused on my Physical Therapy exercises, swimming, and yoga in addition to daily exercises.
Besides the injury, I lost my passion for the sport but it became part of my identity and I had become Zola the gymnast. My social life was limited to my gymnastics friends and a small circle of people at school. (I attended a small high school and for years I was not able to parties and get togethers because I had practice or a meet.) Around Level 5, I started to lose my passion but was afraid to stop because it was all I knew. I continued to train and was working on my skills up to Level 9 when I had to finally call it quits due to my injury.
Gymnastics is a great sport and I have had many positive experiences and moments with the sport, but I feel that I should have quit before I competed in Level 6 and turned my attention onto track and field. I currently am on the track and field team at CSU, Northridge and am in pain and hoping that we can find something that will minimize the pain and allow me to earn a scholarship in this sport. If I had been able to give myself that advice and taken it, I feel that I would be healthier and happier as a track and field athlete.