When is enough really enough ? Who decides we should retire ?

[Dave]

Hi all haven't really been on the forum and I haven't posted any new threads for a while so thought id ask the question

" When is Enough really Enough ? "

I'm a gymnast and some would say I'm over the hill at 22 :mad: but I still love tumbling and doing acro work, now as I'm not getting any younger who decides when its time to retire ? is it the gymnasts decision ? there old body's decisions ? or when your club says so ? ( when saying this I don't mean my current club as its going great there :D )

Answers on a post card please ????

I would like to think its down to the gymnast but how many of us older gymnasts have had to quit when we didn't want too ? I for 1 was forced to quit when I was 16 due to injury but made a comeback when I was 18 ( Luckily for me ), but I then injured myself again and had to quit only to have surgery and come back again when I was 19 going on 20 - yet i recently spent a good 10 months out injured YET AGAIN (( Unlucky or What ?? ))
Some would say I'm the comeback specialist as I keep coming back no matter what knocks me down...;) but what i wouldnt give to be injurey free in my twilight years as gymnast

[DJC]

Well if a gymnast wants to retire they're perfectly entitled to. A club shouldn't make a gymnast feel like they have to continue against their will.

[Angela Williams]

I retired from artistic when I was 17 - because I was about to do my A-levels and I kind of though I was too old and meant to retire. I wasn't ready though and returned to the sport. I knew I'd had enough when I ended up on crutches and then my body started hurting during and after training. I had pains in joints I'd never had problems with. I'm glad I went back though - I dont itch to get back on the kit now and I'm quite content with my coaching. I just have a little play every now and again!

[Steve Adamson]

this has got to be the perfect thread to refer people to my "call to retiring gymnasts" plea, just because you are feeling old enough to retire from one sport doesn't mean you can't transfer to another....

[Gingerheid]

Enough is enough when you decide it is :)

But if you're starting to think it may be, yet don't want to not have anything to do with gym, this may be the time to think about starting a graceful transfer to coaching!

[Elliot]

I just decided to retire from Trampolining. Totally killed my back in training on Friday doing baranis and couldn't get out of bed all weekend. It's been hurting for ages anyway. Think I'll stick with coaching and judging from now on.

[Gingerheid]

Oh dear! Sorry to hear that:(

[Clarabel]

I would say that full retirement would be decided by your body and when you just can't take any more, or if you aren't enjoying it any more. Why do it if you don't enjoy it? There is a wind-down process in between though. You can retire from the serious competitions with all the pressure and move on to veteren's competitions, or work for displays, or just for development rather than for any specific targets. Vet's competitions tend to be less frequent, less serious and more about taking part and staying fit. Our vet's circuit has regular competitors in the over 50's category! You can also change sports to one which is more appropriate to your particular set of injuries and circumstances (don't wish to suggest any branch is 'easier' than other).

Your coach probably has a say in the wind-down because if you aren't progressing and competitions are getting to be ridiculously tough to train for then your coach might advise you to move on. Some coaches are tied to particular levels so that if you are slipping from being 'high-level' there is likely to be a waiting list of up-and-coming gymnasts who are going to get better use out of a position in a high-level club. This type of club often gets external funding and has an obligation to turn out a particular standard of gymnast. This might mean that you are pushed into stepping down, but usually you will know yourself that there are problems keeping up.

I gave up earlier because of a change of school, but would have been chucked out at 16 because the local area had children's clubs to age 16 or high-level clubs. If you weren't competing at British level then you got thrown out at 16! Now I am back training at the local adult club and we have mums and grannies at our club and everything from complete beginners to advanced competitors.

[Elliot]

don't think I'm old enough for that though - only 17. been trampolining for about seven years and had an x-ray the other day. got a compressed spine at the bottom so I was really made to give up. Might have a little go now and again though when I'm coaching.

[sarahlouise]

i 19 (20 in 2 weeks!!!! AGH!) and still doign sports acro- well i was meant to have quit BUT i cant!!!!

I was finding it really hard to 'just coach' and wanted to do balances and still be a gymnast....so my coach at the club i goto when at uni has said she doesnt mind if i move to being a gymnast! YEY!!!

but then again im 19 gonig on 12 so i fit in well!!

anmyway i think you can keep gonig till they tell you to stop, and go get a job and have babies etc!!!

But i do find that im stiffer than when i was 14/15 and that i tend to ache more, but i take cod liver oil to keep me supple and stop those cracks!!

x

[Anita]

Both my daughters still compete at acro - the eldest is 22 in May and the youngest was 20 in January. My 20 year-old retired two years' ago when she got a full-time job doing shift work: it lasted for a whole week! Now she trains when she's not working - she's doing trios and works with two girls who form a pair so they can still work when she's not in.

The eldest is in her final year at uni but still planning to compete into next year .....

[Lucy]

Whenever you feel like you 've had enough it's no one elses decision!