Everyone loves to watch the gymnastics portion of the Summer Olympics, especially the U.S. Women's Team. Every time they perform, they make all of the crazy flips they do look almost effortless. However, anyone who is or has ever been a gymnast knows that it is definitely not effortless.
I was a gymnast for about 7 years or so until I quit to join my school's cheerleading squad. I wasn't a particularly amazing gymnast, but I do know that there are several universal things that all gymnasts can relate to.
1. Having to use the "Sorry, I have gymnastics" excuse on a regular basis
It was either that, or "Yeah, I can only hang out for a few hours because I have gymnastics tonight."
2. One of the drawers in your room was filled with leotards
Everyone always judged each other by how colorful their leotards were.
3. The excruciating pain you felt when one of the callouses on your hands ripped
Having your callous rip should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Those uneven bars were brutal, man.
4. Being able to do 10x the amount of tricks on the trampoline than on the actual floor
I could do anything on the trampoline, but when it came to actually doing it on the floor I always crashed and burned horribly.
5. Accidentally beating up the person who was spotting you
I may or may not have kicked several spotters in the face/head whilst trying to do a back handspring.
6. Constantly getting yelled at to point your toes
I know all my cheerleaders out there will relate to this, too. Flexed feet are a huge no-no in both cheer and gymnastics.
7. Being jealous of how flexible other gymnasts were
I was never blessed with flexibility. No matter how often I stretched, I could never completely get my splits. To this day I'm still bitter every time I see someone do one.
8. Watching gymnasts younger than you do amazing passes and feeling like an uncoordinated potato
Nothing hurts the self-esteem more than seeing a 10-year-old girl do an amazing tumbling pass while you're off in the corner still falling on your face.
9. Viewing the beam as the enemy
Seriously. Name one person whose favorite event is the beam. You can't, can you?
