SHARED by: Leigh Goldman, Gymtime Mom

Olympian golden girl Gabby Douglas has admitted that it’s difficult to concentrate during a gymnastics meet. And it’s not hard to see why. You’ve got a few hundred spectators in the stands. People, including fellow competitors on the floor, are cheering. There are gymnasts on each apparatus performing simultaneously. Plus, music (the good, the bad and the positively cringe-worthy) from the floor routine section is blaring. Don’t forget it could be 4-5 hours before the meet is over and you can eat again.

With all that going on, now try to imagine landing a back walkover on a four-inch-wide piece of wood during your beam routine – a move you’ve been struggling to perfect during weeks of practice. Not so easy. That’s the kind of pressure gymnasts face during competition.

We spoke to some of our Gymtime gymnasts to ask them what they’re thinking about as they compete in the sport they love. The girls represent various levels and ages.

Lily, Level 4, age 12: “I hope I don’t break my neck or die or mess up.” 

Elize, Bronze, age 9: “What I’m going to do next and my routine.”

Emma, Level 3, age 8: “I think about squeezing everything except for my brain! And I think about pointing my toes. Also, my round-off back handspring because it was my first time getting it by myself at the last meet without anyone on the floor with me.”

Sophie, Copper, age 10: “I’m reviewing my routines.”

Jordana, Copper, age 7: “On beam, I think I have to work. I’m a little bit scared and then it gets better as I go through the routine”

Mia, Level 3, age 7: “Sometimes I get nervous because there are a lot of people, but you have to focus like you’re just practicing. You have to try as hard as you can.”

Sofia, Level 3, age 7: “I feel like I’m going to fall, but you have to concentrate, especially because it’s really loud at meets. My coach tells me to just concentrate on what I’m doing.”

Leyli, Bronze, age 11: “I just think about having fun and concentrating more on bars and beam. I don’t want to fall when I do a cartwheel on the beam.”

Caitlin, Level 3, age 8: “I think about all the corrections that Coach Amy’s given me. I think, ‘Here you go. You have to do it now.’”

Emma, Bronze, age 11: “Making my coaches proud.” 

Callie, Bronze, age 13: “I think about sticking my routines and cookies!”

No related content found.