Gymnastics has been a world renowned sport since the 1896 Olympics.

While this sport may be fun to watch, it can have harmful effects on the bodies of those competing. From back problems to tendonitis, gymnasts fight through pain to give their best performances.

Senior Abby Withrow is an all around competitive gymnast who started gymnastics at a young age. “I started gymnastics when I was eighteen months in ‘Mommy and Me’ classes, and then when I was eight I started real gymnastics, like bar, beam, and floor. I did that recreationally for two or three years until I started doing it competitively,” Withrow said.

Withrow’s body has suffered painful consequences as a result of her many years of gymnastics. Withrow said, “Gymnastics affects everything in my body. I have a horrible back, I can’t go backwards so I avoid going backwards at all costs. Knees, ankles, everything you can imagine hurts.”

Junior Becca Fritz was introduced to gymnastics at the age of two, because her babysitter owned a gym. Fritz does vault, bar, beam, and floor, and also has multiple medical problems due to gymnastics. Fritz said, “I have a messed up back, I have tendonitis everywhere, and my ankles are really bad.”

Fritz underwent a severe injury stemming from a gymnastics stunt gone wrong. “At my sectional meet, I was doing my clear hip on bars, and my hands slipped and I got a concussion. I couldn’t advance to districts,” Fritz said.

However, Fritz strives to set a good example for younger gymnasts. “It’s worth the pain though, because I remember as a little girl me looking at all of the older girls in the gym and wanting to be like them. Now that I’m older, I’ve realized that I need to be a good role model for the little girls that are looking up to us,” Fritz said.

Senior Sasha Borshev started gymnastics at the age of 12 and now competes in floor, vault, and bar. Her body has been negatively affected from the sport too. “It kills my body. I have really weak ankles and knees now. I think I have permanent back pain. On the flipside, every year I get totally ripped,” Borshev said.

Borshev also suffered an injury last year. Borshev said, “I got injured last year at sectionals and I was on crutches after doing a leap.”

Despite all the challenges, Borshev remains positive about her experience. Borshev said, “It’s worth it in the end, because of all of the friends I’ve made, and how confident of a person it’s made me, because you have to perform in front of large crowds of people every single week.”

Withrow’s take away from gymnastics is positive. Withrow said, “I think gymnastics is 100 percent worth it. If I could go back and do everything over again, I would in a heartbeat. I would not want to change anything.”

Name: Abigail Withrow (Abby)

Age:17

City: Mayfield Heights

• 3 years on the gymnastics team
• Abby is looking forward to her senior season and going on the state trip.

Favorite team: UCLA

• She has contributed by doing all around for my team

Record Prediction: 10-0

• She wants to step up by doing beam for her team and upgrading my bar routine

Skill Learned: Uprise, uprise

• She believes that the team is better at unity and confidence this year

Role: Co-captain

• She wants to be a historian when she grows up

• If she could have one super power, she would choose to have fire

Name: Rebecca Fritz (Becca)

Age:16

City: Gates Mills

• 3 years on the gymnastics team
• Becca is looking forward to going to states as an all-around contender.

Favorite team: LSU

• She has contributed a good attitude to her team

Record Prediction: 10-0

• She wants to step up by practicing harder

Skill Learned: Straddle back

• She believes that the team is better at unity and working together this year

Role: Being an all around contender

• She wants to be a physical therapist when she grows up

If she could have one super power, she would choose to have ice power