Chellsie Memmel has to be my favorite part of 2020. Ok, that's not fair. There's not much to compete with in 2020, so let's say she has been my favorite part of this Road to Tokyo. As a mother of two and a former gymnast myself (failed gymnast? Maybe...), watching her comeback has been beyond inspiring. It's been motivational and a little bit triumphant for adult women everywhere who just want to scream, "Who said this was just a sport for teenagers? I mean no, I can't do it, but SHE CAN, so TAKE THAT! Baby rearing hips can still look GREAT in a leotard!" Well, not mine. Definitely not mine.
But Chellsie.
Gymnastics is a sport like no other. If you've never experienced it, you will never quite understand it. The power, the flying, the rush, the adrenaline, the overcoming of fear, and the feeling of astonishment when you realize you're capable of something you didn't believe you could ever do. But then it's gone. You grow up, and your exercise turns to running and jazzercise (don't mock, I love jazzercise!), and that feeling of flying is a distant memory simply because it is not done as an adult. Or it wasn't.
But Chellsie.
Now, thanks to her brave and incredible comeback, it is. Adult gymnastics classes have sprung up all over the country and women of all ages are going back to the gym. Whether it's for exercise or fun, who cares! So many times as women, wives, and mothers, everything we do has to be on someone else's schedule. Our "me" time is short and, let's be real, there usually is not enough of it. This time at the gym, for former gymnasts, is more than just a time to get healthier, it is a flashback to a time when you could just be YOU, not Mom, just you. Chellsie Memmel has inspired a movement for middle-aged women who want to fly again, or learn to fly for the first time, and no matter what her future holds as a gymnast, making gymnastics accessible to entire generations is an incredible thing.
Let's take a look back at Chellsie Memmel 1.0.
Both of Chellsie's parents are talented gymnastics coaches. When she was young they taught her the basics, and then at 8 years-old, she began training at Salto Gymnastics under coach Jim Chuddy. Memmel was competing at the elite level by the age of 12.
Here's a breakdown of some of her notable accomplishments:
• As a first year senior, she won all around gold at the Pan American Games
• She was chosen for the Worlds team where she helped lead the team to gold which was the first time an American team had won gold at Worlds
• In addition to team gold in 2003, she became World Champion on bars
• She was chosen as an alternate for the 2004 Olympic team
• Chellsie was the silver medalist at the National Championships in 2005, behind Nastia Liukin
• Back at the Pan American games in 2005, she once again won all around gold, plus finished first on beam and bars
• At the World Champions in 2005, she won the all around making her only the third American woman to ever bring home all around gold from Worlds
• After fighting through injury, Memmel placed third at National Championships behind Liukin and Shawn Johnson in 2008
• Two weeks after Nationals, Memmel participated in Olympic Trials and was named to the USA WAG Team
• Thanks to an injury during training, it was announced that Chellsie would only compete on bars at the Olympics. Later it was revealed that this injury was actually a broken ankle, but despite this, she performed beautifully in the team finals, helping lead the team to a silver medal.
• In 2011, Memmel returned to gymnastics, competing at the US Classic and finishing with all around silver
• After a successful comeback, her previous shoulder injury was reaggravated, requiring another surgery and ultimately leading to her retirement...
OR SO WE THOUGHT...
But Chellsie.
Now enter Chellsie Memmel 2.0.
Chellsie 2.0 came out of retirement officially in July of 2020 after posting videos of her training elite skills beginning in April of the same year. She has taken the gymnastics world by storm and has a huge fanbase cheering her on.
I, personally, have made it my goal to lose the weight, and as a reward, travel to Chellsie's gym for one of their adult gymnastics classes. Never before have I been so motivated to put in the work and stick to it. I cannot wait for the day that I can step foot in the gym, not as a supportive mom to my gymnastics-obsessed daughter, but as a middle-aged woman looking to regain the ability to fly... a feat that was for so long deemed impossible.
But Chellsie.
We thank you.
(If you aren't currently following Chellsie's YouTube Channel, do yourself a favor and start!)
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