Injury.

As a gymnast one of the biggest obstacles is getting through tough injuries. I know from first hand accounts and personal experiences. Often time gymnasts do not want to have an injury so they will put off a doctors appointment until it cannot wait any longer, also they push their bodies to the breaking point. When I was 14 years old I had a back pain and did 20 hours of gymnastics on top of it a week anyway for about a month. Finally I told my mom and coach who both told me to suck it up. When I made it to the doctor after barely being able to move he told me that I had two fractures in my lower vertabrate. Needless to say I was out for about 4 months completely. The fight to come back was one of frustratiion and rehabilitation. Many injuries cause gmnasts to quit or have physical pain that never goes away. An injury can one of two things: end a career or make an athlete stronger willed. If I could tell any gymnast any advice about an injury it would be do everything that the doctor allows to keep you in shape and follow the doctor's orders to heal as quick as possible. Also, make sure to give your body the time and rest it needs to heal itself and do not push it to hard right away. Give yourself a little bit of time to get back into things and try hard to keep a possible mood even when things are not going as you would want. One of the hardest parts for me was to not get down on myself, when I could not do something that I had before I fractured my back. I had to remember that I had been out for four whole months and only half way back for two more. But in the end you will get through it and know that you are stronger because of it.