Kayla Smith left gymnastics as a teenager—but the transition was anything but quick. The sport shaped her confidence, her identity, and her view of herself in the world. Walking away felt silent and unresolved. It took years, reflection, and a return to movement on her own terms to begin healing and rediscovering who she was without the sport that once defined her.

“… When I raised my hands above my head, I wasn’t sure whether to feel relief, pride, or heartbreak. Because once I walked off that mat, my life as a competitive gymnast was over.”