Making History with Team Canada

My Gymnastics Family

I’m from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, so needless to say, I knew I’d have some adjustments to make once I arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska.

For starters, all my classes back home were in French. 

Here in the States, obviously everything is in English, so it took some time for me to differentiate the wording and terms that I grew up learning in Canada.

It was also a little scary moving to a new country and not knowing anyone, but it was a discomfort I was willing to embrace.

I needed a change.

More specifically, I needed to be part of a team.

Competing internationally, it can be very individual-based. I was used to competing for my country against my own teammates to try to be the best in the world.

At Nebraska, I’m competing for the school. I’m competing with my teammates instead of against them.

My teammates are there for me at practice cheering me on, offering me advice, and showing their support. 

And I do the same for them.

I absolutely love it.

The team aspect here at Nebraska is by far what I love most about competing at the collegiate level.

It’s the most fun I’ve had competing in gymnastics, and it helped reignite my love for the sport again.

Gymnastics can be such a lonely sport at times, especially when you’re struggling like I was, but with my teammates and all the great people I’m surrounded by at Nebraska, I know they’re there for me every step of the way — whether it’s my best competition or my worst.

Throughout my freshman season, for the first time in what felt like forever, I truly enjoyed competing and had an absolute blast doing so, no matter the outcome.