University of Minnesota Athletics
My Gymnastics Story: Bailey Abernathy
10/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Oct. 27, 2015
The sport of gymnastics is no easy feat. The years of tough training both mentally and physically push gymnasts to their limits in order to suceed at the highest level. Gophersports.com sat down with the University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team to learn where each of these 14 women came from in order to call themselves Golden Gophers.
As a kid, I was a bundle of energy. Thankfully for my parents, I had an older brother to romp around with, but when that proved to not be enough, they had me try all kinds of sports. Throughout the years, I've dabbled in swimming, soccer, diving, roller hockey, tai kwon do, lacrosse and of course gymnastics. Some sports stuck around for longer than others, but in the end, only one captured my heart; gymnastics.
I first started gymnastics when I was three-years-old. I took a couple breaks when the other sports seemed more interesting, but I always went back to the chalky gym where I could learn to fly. That feeling of flying through the air, doing things that others can't and always having a new challenge are what made me fall in love with the sport. Still to this day, those are my favorite things about gymnastics but along the way, I noticed that above those, I cherish the relationships that I've made through the sport the most. I trained at two different gyms in club and am lucky to call both of them homes away from home, not to mention the home I've found in Minnesota. The connections among teammates are some of the most genuine friendships I've experienced and each is near and dear to my heart.
I could write a book about all of the invaluable lessons that I've learned through my experience with gymnastics, so I'll try to just highlight some of the main ones. First, gymnastics taught me that hard work can be fun. When you spend hours on end trying to perfect skills on a 4-inch piece of wood four feet up in the air that most people can't imagine doing on the ground, it's tough to keep at it if you don't find the fun in it. Many girls quit because of this and I don't blame them. It gets hard; really hard. But I had a passion for the craziness and enjoyed the continual challenge that gymnastics provides. There's also nothing sweeter for when all of that hard work pays off at a competition.
Another important thing I've learned is to be relentlessly resilient. I battled many different injuries throughout the years and during the frustrating recovery process when I physically could not do gymnastics, I learned just how much I love to flip. Every time, I came back stronger and with more passion which, propelled me further in the sport. Along with being resilient, I learned how to remain positive through the hard times. Every gymnast goes through struggles, it's inevitable. Whether it's fear of a skill, an injury, a tough practice or just sheer frustration these battles are what define athletes. I've found that staying positive and pushing through, I always made it through the tough times.
Through working hard and never giving up, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to keep pursing my passion here at the University of Minnesota. Being a gymnast for the University of Minnesota has been such an honor. It's an amazing feeling to wear the Maroon and Gold alongside my teammates out on the competition floor and know that we inspire the little girls in the stands to pursue their dreams. I used to be that little girl going to collegiate meets and hoping one day to be like them. Being on the other side is a wonderful privilege to say the least.
It's rare that a person finds something that they love so dearly at such a young age and I'm blessed to be one of the few. I'm so grateful that I discovered gymnastics because it has shaped me into who I am and has given me so many wonderful opportunities that I wouldn't trade for the world.
- Bailey Abernathy
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