is there someone who started as an adult and competes in gymnastics

[Katharina Huemer]

Just out of curiosity.... is there anyone on this board or do you know anyone who has never been in touch with anything like gymnastics, crossfit, cheer, tumbling, dance until they were adults (18 years+) but has reached about L7/8+ and could do very good routines on each event?

Thank you

[Joshua Slocum]

I started my first year of college. I have pretty good routines on rings/floor/high bar, decent on p-bars and vault, and pommel needs some work... 

 

I believe that Daniel also started gymnastics in college. 

[Daniel Burnham]

I started late in college and did not compete until grad school.

My routines are not great but decent I guess. I approach them similarly to foundation. I am working my way through usag levels with a few exceptions. Pbars was a favorite before my injury. I have been working mostly pommel and floor since then with some pbars.

[Blairbob]

Roger Harrell started tumbling when he was 16 or so. Competed collegiate club at UCDavis with pretty competitive routines. Their club competed against other collegiate teams unliked NAIGC. His routines were high enough to place at the bottom rung Nationally. 

 

Steve Elliot didn't do gymnastics until college and dominated NCAA on Floor and Vault. Was a diver before.

 

One guy at Berkeley was actually a D3 football player before he got into the club. Was in the grad program for math. Optional level routines especially on HB. He's fairly high up in NAIGC as well as an ex president/founder.

There was a girl in her mid 20's at Davis Diamonds that competed L7 and didn't start till college.

[Jan Tanja]

So glad I found this. I am planning to apply all the knowledge I have obtained from gymnastics bodies and previous sports to joining a gymnastics club once I get into college.

[Katharina Huemer]

Roger Harrell started tumbling when he was 16 or so. Competed collegiate club at UCDavis with pretty competitive routines. Their club competed against other collegiate teams unliked NAIGC. His routines were high enough to place at the bottom rung Nationally. 

 

Steve Elliot didn't do gymnastics until college and dominated NCAA on Floor and Vault. Was a diver before.

 

One guy at Berkeley was actually a D3 football player before he got into the club. Was in the grad program for math. Optional level routines especially on HB. He's fairly high up in NAIGC as well as an ex president/founder.

There was a girl in her mid 20's at Davis Diamonds that competed L7 and didn't start till college.

Wow, that's not a lot of people1? Do you think we just don't know about them or are there really no adults who started gymnastics and got to L7 or higher?!

[Daniel Burnham]

I also have a friend who started freshman year of college and is able to do most l7 stuff.

In NAIGC it's more common. It's hard to start as an adult outside a college club because almost no gyms will let adults in to practice.

[Blairbob]

It's just not very common. About the only way to get access to enough training hours is through a collegiate club or if you coach at a gym that allows you to train (which isn't always the case).

 

Once you are an adult, you probably have to make some money unless you are living at home or are rich.

[Joshua Slocum]

Reaching level 7 or 8 is not that difficult if you have the time to practice, access to facilities and a coach, and the dedication required to practice consistently. It's rare because these factors rarely line up. Given that you have all of the above, you should have no trouble reaching level 7/8 if you work hard. 

[Katharina Huemer]

Reaching level 7 or 8 is not that difficult if you have the time to practice, access to facilities and a coach, and the dedication required to practice consistently. It's rare because these factors rarely line up. Given that you have all of the above, you should have no trouble reaching level 7/8 if you work hard.

Thank you! I hope so ☺️

what do you consider "hard working"? 15 hours a week? or more?

[Katharina Huemer]

It's just not very common. About the only way to get access to enough training hours is through a collegiate club or if you coach at a gym that allows you to train (which isn't always the case).

Once you are an adult, you probably have to make some money unless you are living at home or are rich.

Hmm, I guess you are right. Really sad that this great sport is limited to kids/young teens!

[Matthew Barrett]

Thank you! I hope so ☺️

what do you consider "hard working"? 15 hours a week? or more?

I wouldn't use hours as a way to measure work effort.  I have seen some athletes do more in an hour than others do in five hours.  This i mostly due to coaches lazily planning and leading training session. The athlete's effort in practice is crucial to reaching their potential but if held to low standards of work and training then no amount of effort can fix that.

[Joshua Slocum]

Thank you! I hope so ☺️

what do you consider "hard working"? 15 hours a week? or more?

"Working hard" in this case means two things: the first is maintaining a high level focus and intensity. It also means putting in something like 10-20 hours a week. 

 

I wouldn't use hours as a way to measure work effort.  I have seen some athletes do more in an hour than others do in five hours.  This i mostly due to coaches lazily planning and leading training session. The athlete's effort in practice is crucial to reaching their potential but if held to low standards of work and training then no amount of effort can fix that.

I think it's fair in that case to say that the slower individual is not working hard. 

[Jan Tanja]

Can you compete in the NCAA in grad school?

[Daniel Burnham]

Can you compete in the NCAA in grad school?

Yes.  and after.  I didn't compete until grad school.

 

There is an alumni team as well.