Most gymnasts prefer to push the thought to the back of their minds, but the inevitable truth is there…. sooner or later, we all have to move on from our days in the chalk bucket and find new sports to keep us busy. For some, the choice is an easy, logical one, but others struggle to find that “next big thing” that will entertain them for years to come. If you’re in that boat right now or think you’ll find yourself there soon, then let us help you out in your quest! Here are some examples of sports for which former gymnasts are well-suited. Are you brave enough to try any of them?!


 

1. Diving: If you’re not afraid of heights and always considered “spatial awareness” training (aka jumping on the trampoline) your favorite part of practice, then this might be the sport for you! Just beware of one slight difference: the goal is to land head-first, which could be a bit of an adjustment.

 

2. Ice skating: I know it’s cliché, but the cliché is there for a reason, right?! This is the right path for those ballerinas out there who always pranced around the floor like little angels between tumbling passes and made the rest of us look like clomping Clydesdales in comparison. Fun music? Check. Artistry mixed with pure guts? Check. Balance? Check. Dazzling outfits? Double check!

 

3. Fitness challenges: Okay, I know that’s a vague category, but I’m not quite sure what to call it exactly. I’m talking about all of those new-fangled activities like Crossfit, American Ninja Warrior, Tough Mudders, etc. You know the ones. If you were in doubt about this kind of thing, then I hope watching Kacy Catanzaro shock the world has changed your mind!

 

4. Weight lifting: A classic choice for all the muscle-bound mamas on the team. You know who you are! If your six-pack always showed through your leotard and you had no problem challenging all the boys in school to arm wrestling matches (and beating them soundly!), then weightlifting is an obvious choice. Trust me, the conditioning you did in the gym makes almost anything seem like a piece of cake!

 

5. Aerial skiing: Okay, so this one requires a few key ingredients: snow, a ski jump, and an instructor to teach you all about this funky but intriguing sport. Maybe not the right choice for all of us, but if you have access to these things, then it would be a shame not to at least give it a try!

 

6. Snowboarding: Again, snow and mountains are a basic requirement for this one, but after so many years of being banned from the slopes, aren’t you dying to try it? If you love the rush of racing downhill and are cool with the whole balancing-on-a-board-with-your-feet-locked-in thing, then I can’t picture anything better. But it’s not known for being particularly safe, so if you’re accident-prone, you might want to take a pause and decide how often you want to be visiting your orthopedic surgeon in the future.
 

7. Parkour: I’ll admit that I’ve never done this one myself, so I can’t say too much about it other than that it looks super awesome and seems like the perfect way to show off for your friends (and maybe go viral on the internet?). It can literally be done just about anywhere, and the equipment is already there to be used, so what’s standing in your way?! Other than the idea of running up walls, throwing yourself off of large objects, and basically trying to defy gravity for a few seconds at a time, of course.

 

8. Dance: Similar to ice skating, but yet so different! From ballet to modern, tap to Latino, there are countless different variations to try. If you just LOVED performing for the crowd at your meets and considered floor routine choreography one of your weekend hobbies, then you’d be silly not to give it at least one trial class! What’s the worst that can happen… they tell you to stop doing “gymnastics hands?” Even this can be overcome, though I can say from personal experience that it might take a while.

 

9. Trapeze: If your nickname as a gymnast was “monkey” and you always got your best scores on bars, then man oh man, do I have the recommendation for you! Trapeze is not only unique and beautiful to watch, but it’s a natural next-step for gymnasts who want to go into showbiz (like Courtney Kupets, for example!). So next time the traveling circus is in town, why not go down and ask if they offer lessons?

 

10. Any sport at all! Come on folks, we’re GYMNASTS for crying out loud… after all we’ve been through in our training, we can do anything! It doesn’t matter what you try as long as you’re passionate about it and give it 100% effort.