I was in elementary school when our gym teacher brought out the gymnastics equipment. He didn’t have us do anything dangerous, just get used to being around it, jumping on it, swinging on it, like little kids do. I remember I got up on the balance beam, (I was maybe 8), and stood up, looked around, and that was enough for me. I was terrified of being that high off the ground. I noped right out of doing any form of gymnastics, and quickly figured out that gymnastics was an activity I would be admiring from “over there somewhere”.

(We also got to do some baby vaulting techniques. Just jumping on top and climbing or jumping over. My reaction to that was “Hey! This seems like fun!” But also a big “Nope!”)

So yeah, I have the absolute and utmost respect for all the little girls, who managed to move past the terror I felt, at doing gymnastics!