From Gymnast to Coach: Giving Back What Gymnastics Gave Me
When I look back at the time I’ve spent at Infinity Gymnastics Club, one could say I have
spent majority of my life surrounded by gymnastics. It almost seemed as if it was my second
home in a sense, I woke up, went to school, and afterwards spent the last couple hours of my day
doing gymnastics with my coaches and friends who already seemed like a second family to me.
Along with that, part of my daily routine was the work and dedication that propelled me to
become the gymnast my coaches had dedicated themselves to, and I will be forever grateful for
that.
My career as a gymnast is like any other, I began gymnastics at the age of four, in the
Tumble Bear program, and from there went on to become an Optional gymnast until I turned 18.
Throughout my time as a gymnast, I had become accustomed to the hours of conditioning, the
hours of stretching, and ultimately the feeling of what it feels like to do a sport that requires so
much of you. Yet, what solidified my place and my confidence as a gymnast was the support my
coaches gave me and the lifetime of friendships that I made along the way, that was provided
through IGC. As someone who has seen both sides of gymnastics, as a gymnast and now as a
coach, I believe it’s about the environment that provides growth and safety in which we blossom
into something greater.
I’ve known many fears, doubts, and anxieties that come with doing a sport like
gymnastics, but I can say that, in the face of all those things, there were coaches and friends who
were there to support and ease these fears. As a gymnast, I have experienced the insecurities that
come with doing a new sport, or meeting new people, and what drove me to become a better
gymnast and an even better teammate was the confidence and security that my coaches extended
to me. I have experienced firsthand how a supportive environment can push you beyond what
you thought capable, while also teaching you the importance of self-discipline, resilience, and
perseverance. Now, as a coach for recreational classes and competitive classes, I have the
opportunity to create that same environment for a new generation of gymnasts. One that can see
past failures and successes, but one that can remind gymnasts that progress matters more than
perfection. Further, I see the patience, the support, and the willingness to keep these fears at bay
in return for confidence that has allowed students to believe that they are capable of more than
just what they believe they can do.
Gymnastics has given me far more than the ability to do skills; it has shaped me in the
person and coach I am today. At Infinity Gymnastics Club, athletes are challenged to grow, but
also encouraged, supported and reminded that their worth does not lie in a score or in a perfect
routine, but in the willingness to get back up and try again. I have been taught to celebrate the
small victories, to take my failures as lessons, and to ultimately believe in myself when
everything seemed impossible. These lessons have stayed with me far beyond the gym, and is
ultimately what I would like to give back to my students. I believe that gymnastics is something
that lies beyond something greater than the equipment or the gym, because gymnastics is not just
about what happens once you step on to the equipment, but what happens when you step off of it.
And if I can create that environment, one that helps an athlete discover their strengths, find their
confidence, and believe what they are capable of, then Infinity Gymnastics, their gymnast, and
coaches have created something that will last far beyond gymnastics.
By Sarahi Balderrama
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