Hmmm, That's Either a Psycho or a Gymnast... (Plus a short story!)

There are many ways that a stranger can spot a gymnast. Most of the time, appearance gives it away: Athletic, buff, and very, very short. However, there are a few other characteristics and behaviors of gymnasts that will make an "outsider" look twice.

1. We find ourselves being more comfortable upside down than right side up. This is kind of obvious.

2. Competitiveness. I'm sure this is the case with many other sports, but I know for a fact that gymnasts can be extremely competitive. *cough "me" cough*

3. Flexibility combined with ungracefulness. This is a generalization. I know many gymnasts are graceful, but not like ballerinas and rhythmic gymnasts.

Again with the specialness.

4. Looking like a man when we put our arms up. Gymnasts tend to be very strong in their shoulders and muscles in that region because of bars and having to support your body with your arms just as well as with your legs. So, when we go into a handstand or go to do our hair, we look like man-gymansts.

5. Okay, can I just mention the short thing again? Almost all of my gymnast friends are under 5'5". Learn why I have an excuse to be short!

6. We wear watches and bracelets very, very tight, sometimes so tight that our hand starts to turn purple. This is because of grips. I am so used to grips being extremely tight, that I buckle my watch the same way, which makes it pretty darn tight.

7. Sleep in weird positions.  I've been doing this since I was four months old. (Well now this is awkward. I know I have a picture but I can't find it. Lovely.)

8. What's that book? Who's that singer? Oh, she's famous? The Grammys were on last night? Oh. Okay. Yep, that's what you get when you spend 4 1/2 hours at workout. :)

And now for the weird story. ** Geek Alert**

So my head coach is a judge. Judges, when judging, have to write down the skill that a gymnast performs very quickly before the gymnasts performs the next one, so it would take too long to write down the name. They use little symbols. Today, we were on beam and she had written out the symbols for our assignment and was explaining it.

Photo Courtesy of: FIG

Then it happened.

I had thought, and I blurted it out. "GYMNASTICS TALK HAS A LITERARY TRADITION!!!!!" Then I turned around and high-fived Jamie, as she was the only one who knew what the heck I was talking about because only she had taken AP Geography. It was pretty funny, but if you aren't laughing, which I assume you aren't, then you just had to be there.

~Rose