Where are all the gymnasts?

[Anna]

Normally I find these threads really, really annoying, but

I see lots of parents posting. And coaches. But surely we have gymnasts here? I love reading/writing about gym and hearing other's stories. So feel free to post them. To get us started..

Started gym:
Reason why:
Level now:

Favourite apparatus/skill:
Least favourite app/skill:

Most encouraging story:

Goals:

For myself... I do tramp and gym

Started gym: Rec when I was a kid, quit. Tramp at 12, gym at 13-16. Still jumping.
Reason why: Friends from school did tramp, Sydney Olympics, looked really cool and fun!
Level now/hours: Gym L6 approx (aus optionals), tramp L7 (17+/junior intl); 12 hours max

Favourite apparatus/skill(s):
Gym- bars, beam and floor; punch fronts on BEAM! Yeah!
Tramp - individual tramp; double pikes, double layouts, HIHO, back twisting, doubles in a row.

Least favourite app/skill(s):
Gym - umm, cartwheel-back somi dismount on beam. Just do the roundoff. Front layouts on floor, because I also suck royally at them. I hate really bad choreography. Wrists. Presentation. Bad form. Blergh.
Tramp - double mini; rebounds, rudis (because I SUCK at them...which is why I hate them). Piked baranis.

Most encouraging story:
Watching my teammates train and make state and national teams and improve...they're so inspiring. Watching the determination in people. The will. The desire.
When people tell me that I'm not going to be able to achieve that. It only makes me more determined.

Goals:
Gym - get that kip (*almost* there), cast HS; giants; punch front on high bb, some tumbling on bb; gain some more strength; ro-ff-back on floor.
Tramp - my routine with 4 doubles; really really nice rudis --> into vol; full out pucked/straight; half in half out tucked on tramp; rudi outs

[Jea_bernadette]

started gym: started at a competitive gym when i was 8 then later went to rec for about 4 years and then moved to competition.
reason why: my mom did gym in high school and i thought it sounded fun
level now/hours: i am now training level five and i currently do about 15 hours a week including open gym.
Favorite apparatus/skill(s): tsukahara, giants, anything on vault.
Least favorite app/skill(s): bars. i just cant get a good kip.
Most encouraging story: i dont really have an encouraging story but i think what really keeps me going is knowing that my whole family supports me and they are always there for me when i need it.
Goals: get a good kip and long hang kip. ansl get a consistent backextension roll. and a backwalkover on the high beam. switch leap on beam.

[Dsaramina]

Started gym:
Started (artisitic) rec when I was 8 and then went to competitive when I was 10, training about 16 hours a week. I quit when I was 13.

Started competitive T&T in December.

Reason why: I went in to a gymnastics summer camp.

Level now: B

Favourite apparatus/skill: Floor/Aerials! (They are so useless, but fun.)

Least favourite app/skill: Bars/Flyaways

Goals: To be able to compete the next level in Tramp next year and to get double backs. Also, to not be such a wimp in tumbling.

[gracefulone]

Started gym:almost 11 years ago, at age 5
Reason why:my doctor told me I was super flexible.He said gymnastics or dance. And dance was boring.
Level now:6, hopefully level 7 in fall.

Favourite apparatus/skill:Bars: clearhip handstand, flyaway. Beam: leaps and jumps!!! Also the stuff I'm training: frontwalkover- fronthandspring, switch leaps
those are my faves! On floor though, I love pike jump-back extension rolls and fun leap/jump passes(switch side- starddle jump or switch leap-tuck full, or straddle full)
Least favourite app/skill:Vault! Actually I don't hate it as much anymore. I do hate the level six dismount on beam though and punch fronts on floor(fronthandspring fronts are fun!)

Most encouraging story:My first year of competition, I scored no higher than a 25 all around. That summer, I worked really hard and the next season, I did nothing lower than a 33.8.

Goals:Move to level seven, at least try giants, layout on floor, 180degree switch leap on high beam.

[maddiekate]

Started gym: tumbling at age 13, gym at age 15, (6 months ago)
Reason why: i always wanted to
Level now: 3/4

Favorite apparatus/skill:
Floor: Full twist layout
Least favourite app/skill:
Floor: front anything
Vault: can't do anything yet!

Goals:
BHS on beam
Doubles on floor
Kip on bars... long way off for me

[gracefulone]

In regards to my goals, I tried giants on strap bar and I def. prefer clearhips for circling elements. I moved to level 7, got a gorgeous layout the second night I ever did them and the switch leaps are great!(though can be inconsistant) Good luck to everyone else with their goals!

[hammy]

Started gym: 5 years old
Reason why: My mom put me in gymnastics because I was doing round-offs down the slide at the playground
Level now: No longer a gymnast--retired after 13 years--ended as college gymnast at West Virginia University. Sadly I had to end my college career before it even really started due to a recurring back fracture that was never going to heal. Now I coach gymnastics--I coach kids from 18 months to rec level 4s and competitive level 4-6s.

Favourite apparatus/skill: Bars--giants, flyaways, double layouts, clear hips
Least favourite app/skill: anything on beam--except yurchanko mounts--i loved those.

Most encouraging story: My first year of level 5 I grew 10 inches, so my cetner of gravity was completely off and I did not even make states. The next year I went to states, and from that point on nothing could hold me back.

Goals: Start working out and doing a little bit of gymnastics here and there--even though I'm not supposed to.

[Anna]

Funnily enough, I always thought you were a guy, hammy.

[hammy]

Nope....I'm a girl. Funny thing is that my brother's nickname is Hammy.

[lilgymnast4ever95]

i started gymnastix and dance when i was 3 quit dance at 7 1/2 to do competitive gymnastics was level 7-8 when started was level 10 at age 10 then got injured and went down to level 4 (dont ask it was my coach) adn now i am still workin my way back up im 16 and i am a level 6-7 so yea i can throw harder skills though i started gymnastics because everyone thought i was good at it and i was favorite event: bars then floor then vault then beam i hate beam but im good at dance everyone loves my dance i guess my most encouraging story is what ive been through it was hard work but now its even harder so that just makes me work even harder goals: to be level 7 by december all i need is series on high beam and a giant and then i have it so im tryin