I love gymnastics. When I was very young I remember watching an American gymnast named Tracee Talavera. I watched her tumble across the blue floor on the television. I was mesmerized. I can still remember turning around from the T.V. and looking at my parents and saying, or rather screaming, “I want to do that!”. I had played every sport you could think of before I discovered gymnastics and I enjoyed them all but this, this was different. This sport spoke to me and nothing was going to stop me from doing it. Gymnastics took over my life (and the lives of my poor parents) and I loved it. After hundreds of leotards, bumps, rips, bruises, tears, smiles, flips, ribbons and miles traveled…it was time to roll up the Mary Lou Retton posters that covered my bedroom wall and hang up my hat. I had one too many bruises and missed one too many social events. I was never going to The Olympics, I think I knew that all along but gymnastics taught me discipline, teamwork and individual drive. Even though I missed out on many social, school and family events I wouldn’t change one thing. It also gave me some of the best friends of my life, friends that I still hang out with today. Every four years when the Olympics come around I get to re-live that feeling that I had so long ago. I can hear what’s in their heads, I know what they’re thinking, how they feel. I can smell the chalk on their hands, feel their years of aches and pains, the nerves and the joy. I get to remember what it felt like to strive for perfection with no fear at such a young age. This year, our team is going to bring it all home, again. I will be right there watching and cheering them on the whole time. Go USA!!