Flipping through the air and landing on the mat with precision, sophomore Atalya Carroll has spent more than 17 hours a week practicing in the gymnasium. With 12 years of experience behind her, she is focused not only on perfecting her movements, but also on pursuing her dream of joining the U.S.A. national team.
At age 3, Carroll did not realize gymnastics would become such a major part of her life. What started as a hobby turned into a passion fueled by her determination, discipline, and dreams of competing at the highest level.
“I was super crazy at home, and my mom just wanted me to get out of the house,” Carroll said. “She put me in gymnastics when I was 3 ½ [years old], and once I started, I was so determined to get better
and learn new skills.”
Although Carroll’s day is a constant cycle of training and studying, she learns to maneuver around it from early morning seminary to late-night practices.
“Balancing school and gymnastics is really difficult at times,” Carroll said. “I try to study on the way to practice, on the way home, or whenever I have free time because my schedule is packed. I had to be really organized to keep up.”
Despite her structured routine, an unexpected wrist injury about a year ago fractured her ulna and radius growth plates, forcing her to step back for a few months. It broke her momentum and left her watching her teammates advance ahead of her.
“After I injured it, I was supposed to be in a brace for four weeks, but my coaches had me take it off and practice like normal,” Carroll said. “That set me back even more, and it was frustrating watching everyone else move forward. Everyone at my level is super talented, so it comes down to consistency and pushing through setbacks.”
Recovery was not just physical, it was mentally challenging. Carroll struggled with self-doubt and the mental pressure to return stronger than before.
“It’s really mental,” Carroll said. “It’s a lot of getting in your head, overthinking, and trying not to break yourself down. But every time I push through it, I get stronger. You have to learn to trust your training.”
Carroll found strength in her support system, her mom, who kept encouraging her to push through with faith and strength. “What if you fall, but what if you fly?” her mom told her during a conversation on their way to practice, a phrase Carroll repeats to herself now anytime doubt creeps in.
“My mom is my biggest inspiration and definitely one of the most hardworking people I know,” Carroll said. “She’s taught me how to persevere and push through challenges without breaking myself down. She’s the reason I never gave up.”
And all that strength has paid off. After two years of competing as a level-10 gymnast, earning awards at nationals, and participating worldwide, Carroll is officially advancing to Junior Elite this year, bringing her even closer to her dream.
“My main goal was making the U.S.A. national team,” Carroll said. “And this year, I’m finally competing as a Junior Elite gymnast. It’s been a long road, but I’m getting there.”
While her future past college may not include gymnastics forever, the lessons and experiences she has learned will become a part of who she is as an individual.
“[No matter what], gymnastics is always going to have a special place in my heart,” Carroll said. “It’s taught me who I am and who I want to become. I know I’m stronger because of everything I’ve been through.”
