Emma

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

What Emma loves most about gymnastics is being able to move her body in a way that is fun and makes her happy. To elaborate, she enjoys being able to grow strength and flexibility through this sport which is beneficial for her in and out of the gym. Emma also loves her teammates who are always there for her especially during those rough practices or competitions. Emma’s teammates are also very encouraging and have helped Emma get over some very tough battles throughout her career as a gymnast.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

Emma’s inspiration comes from her older teammates. She is inspired by them because they always demonstrate hard work and perseverance in a sport that can be very physically and mentally demanding at times. Emma’s older teammates have shown how hard work pays off and how it benefits them in many ways. Being inspired by people Emma sees very often has shown her first hand how challenging it is to overcome the obstacles which gives her a better understanding of how to handle her own obstacles.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

It takes a lot of perfection for a gymnast to get high scores and it’s not like any other sport. Gymnast train a lot and only have seconds to a few minutes to show the judges what they have been training for. It takes one little misstep or a bent leg or a non pointed toe to get huge score deductions. What makes Emma’s parents the proudest is to see her smiling, and having fun with her teammates despite any scores or other gymnasts stressing. She shakes off her nerves and always has fun.