Every young gymnast hopes they can make it to the Olympics one day. Drawing a big 2024 on a canvas with a gold medal in the corner and a poorly drawn Eiffel Tower was what this dream meant to me. Aunts and cousins would ask, “When am I going to see you at the Olympics?” A smile and nod would do for them, but what about those who actually have a chance, who are vying for that Olympic Gold, and who could be just within reach of a trip to Paris?
Years ago, achieving this lifelong goal didn’t necessarily coincide with a goal of competing in college. A gymnast was too worn down to compete on the collegiate stage, or they decided to go pro to collect the big bucks—because who needs college when you’re signing with Nike? Only a few dared to dream of the Olympics and college: Samantha Peszek, Courtney Kupets, Bridget Sloan, and Kyla Ross to name a few. College gymnastics was ruled by level 10s, but the culture is quickly changing as former elite gymnasts begin to dominate, and college coaches are taking note.
Think of some of the top collegiate gymnasts recently: Trinity Thomas, Sunisa Lee, and Jordan Chiles. All of these athletes are former elites, and the recruiting strategies of many coaches are changing because of this as well.
As a level 10, it can be alarming….
