2008 Olympics in Beijing | The Official Website

Maybe because I’m an artist or maybe because I was a gymnast…either way, I love that The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games now lists the sport as Gymnastics Artistic.

It defines the competition as, “A perfect fusion of athletics and aesthetics, gymnastics ranks among the defining sports of the Olympic Games. Mixing strength and agility with style and grace, the high-flying acrobats have provided many of the most breathtaking Olympic spectacles.”

I couldn’t agree more.  I know because I trained day in, day out for years as a young Olympic hopeful.

One fateful night (and one heartless hit and run driver later) the course of my life was changed, ensuring that an Olympic Gold was not part of the plan for me. So when the Summer Games approach, bittersweet memories typically surface. 

After my life-altering accident, it seemed it was all for nothing. I had worked so hard my whole life, I had trained relentlessly, acquired massive amounts of self-discipline, gave up on having a normal childhood…and for what? 

Well, three years into building my business, I finally understand that it all had a purpose. 

The first thing I learned about achieving success started with competitive sports, specifically Gymnastics Artistic!

JUNIOR OLYMPICS INVITATIONAL | CIRCA SOMETIME LAST CENTURY

A quick tug to my leotard removes the annoying wedgie that always finds its way into my butt-crack. I approach the boundary line, arch my back and wave my right hand high into the air. This single-handed salute signifies to the judges that I am ready for my routine.

Two bars into Hernando’s Hideaway, I tango into the hearts of my judges and teammates alike. 

Deep breath in, I prepare for my last run. This is the gold medal moment. After all, I’m a highly-trained eight year old athlete.

Charging ahead with the fearlessness of a defensive lineman, I tackle my biggest tumbling run to date. I punch it. I’m flying high and flipping fast. Then a thud – and blood - everywhere.

Weighing in at a whopping 35 lbs, it’s sort of hard to imagine any strength whatsoever. In fact, from the ages of 6-11, I didn’t appear to have a mid-section. Lacking a definable torso and legs that looked like they were growing out of my neck, I was always told I should have been a ballerina. No doubt, I was definitely born to dance, but acrobatics appealed to the young risk-taker in me.

It seems, even as a kid, I was out to prove that I could do things people said I couldn’t, even if it meant getting a little banged up in the process.

This time? A broken nose.

In an effort to make the full rotation and not land on my head, I pull my knees in tight to turn my body into the tiniest ball possible. Most third-graders don’t pay much attention to physics, but since my face and the floor were familiar with one another, I learned pretty early on about the laws of gravity.  So, my right knee slams hard into my nose.

OMG…I feel the burn shooting through my brain and now I’m bleeding all over the mat.

But I pick myself up, finish my routine and with a blood-stained face, salute the judges.

Without an ounce of hesitation, I turn to wave to my audience.  Embarrassed, dizzy and utterly disappointed that the gold is now out of reach, my glazed-eyes doing nothing to hide my pain.

Then something amazing happens. (more…)

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