Kayla Smith’s journey from shy gymnast to empowered mover, writer, and educator

For many athletes, sports provide structure, discipline, and competition. But for Kayla Smith, gymnastics was more than just a sport—it was where she found herself.

As a child, Kayla was painfully shy, what people today might recognize as severe social anxiety. Team sports didn’t work. Dance classes didn’t stick. But when she watched the 1996 Olympics and saw Dominique Moceanu perform, something clicked. “That’s what I want to do.”

Her parents, eager to support any activity that might bring her out of her shell, found a local gym. That first class changed everything. For the first time, Kayla wanted eyes on her. She loved performing, thrived under pressure, and felt at home in the gym. Gymnastics became more than just a sport—it became the space where she could be confident, expressive, and strong.

A Sport That Demands Everything

Kayla’s gymnastics career took her across multiple gyms, long commutes, and a deep commitment that reshaped her identity. By middle school, she and her family had to make tough decisions:

· Could she continue traditional school with a demanding training schedule?

· Was it worth sacrificing everything for gymnastics, knowing there was no clear future beyond it?

· Was she progressing in an environment that pushed her to improve?

She loved gymnastics, but the sport’s demands forced a tunnel vision that made it hard to see any other possibilities. Sports like gymnastics overdevelop one area of your life—physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. But when it ends, you realize how much of yourself is missing.

Walking Away—And The Weight That Came With It

Kayla’s decision to leave gymnastics wasn’t a sudden one. She struggled with it internally for a long time, not wanting to admit it—even to herself. When the time finally came, she couldn’t even say the words, “I quit.” Instead, she just stopped going.

Unlike athletes who retire at a natural stopping point, like the end of college, quitting gymnastics felt shameful. The culture in the sport didn’t celebrate athletes who left. There was no recognition of what she had accomplished, no closure—just silence.

Her transition out of sport wasn’t just about losing gymnastics—it was about losing a core piece of her identity. She had spent years in the gym, surrounded by teammates she rarely saw outside of practice. When she left, she lost not just the sport, but the community that came with it.

The Lasting Imprint of Gymnastics

Kayla later reflected on this experience in her piece, “Muscle Memory”, where she explored the lasting physical and emotional imprints of her sport.

In it, she writes:

"Alone in my living room now, I walk in circles on my hands to make sure I still can. My muscles haven’t forgotten how. "

Her words capture the bittersweet reality of many former athletes: the sport never truly leaves you. Even when the competition ends, the habits, the discipline, and the physical imprints remain. But the real challenge isn’t just letting go—it’s learning to rebuild and redefine movement on your own terms.

For Kayla, that process took time. But when she discovered aerial hoop, something clicked again. It wasn’t about winning or being judged—it was about reconnecting with movement in a way that felt freeing. Gymnastics had shaped her, but it didn’t define her. And in embracing that, she found a balance she never expected.

What Athletes Need When Sport Ends

Looking back, Kayla realizes how much holistic athlete development is missing in many sports. Gymnastics, like many elite sports, demands everything from young athletes—but doesn’t always prepare them for what happens when it ends. She believes more athletes need:

Identity Coaching – Helping athletes navigate the shift from sport to everyday life, ensuring their identity isn’t solely tied to competition.

Celebration of Transitions – Instead of treating leaving a sport as failure, coaches and programs should recognize and honor an athlete’s time in the sport.

Opportunities to Explore Other Areas of Life – Developing the whole person—physically, emotionally, mentally—so athletes have more to lean on when sport ends.

Finding Balance After Sport

Kayla’s journey didn’t end when she left gymnastics. Instead, it forced her to explore the other parts of herself. Today, she’s a writer, educator, and traveler, working in international education while continuing to foster her love for movement through aerial hoop.

Gymnastics shaped her, but it didn’t define her. And while the transition out of sport was hard, it led her to a more balanced, fulfilling life—one where movement is still part of her, but on her terms. Because the end of sport isn’t the end of an athlete’s story. It’s just the start of something new

What About You?

💭 Did you walk away from your sport before you were ready—or carry it with you long after? How did it shape you? Drop a comment or share your story—I’d love to hear it.

📬 Know someone navigating life after sport? Send this their way. They’re not alone.

Finding Myself in Sport—And Rediscovering Who I Am Without It