Katelyn Ohashi Was the Best Gymnast in the World, Until She Wasn’t | The Players' Tribune

UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi talks about why she decided to quit the elite gymnastics circuit in order to go to college. The 2018 NCAA gymnastics champ shares her struggles with injuries, self image issues, and happiness while competing full-time. Ohashi talks about the influence her coach, UCLA's Miss Val, has had on her rediscovering her love for the sport.

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[lovelittlestpetshop]

She didn’t get fat. She went from having a child’s body to having a woman’s body. She’s beautiful!

[flowerphbia]

"I was compared to a bird that couldn't fly"

*Does a leap that makes her look like she's flying*

[mayakadan]

This is what it means to be fit. She's not thin, she's not fat, she's fit. I think we should just stop with all the thin thick and skinny fat, just fit. Cuz fit is healthy and healthy is beautiful.

[Olivia-ekib]

I remember reading Simone Biles' book as a kid and she talked about how she overheard an opposing coach say she looked like she had swallowed a deer. It's crazy how adults comment on the bodies of teenage athletes, and I'd be willing to bet most of the time it's out of pure jealousy.

[eleeashley]

Fat? What fat?
All I see is just pure healthy muscles.
Such a beautiful being.

[PVPeepDirectioner]

yall i don't see fat, i just see muscles and her beautiful natural body shape 💕

[mavieee]

her body is literally the most perfect body i’ve ever seen holy shit

[ssansu]

Her body type is the same as Simone Biles. Compact and powerful, which is what they need to be to perform at the level they do. I've never understood why she specifically was targeted and told she didn't look the "right" way. She's an amazing athlete.

[nameless]

" Fans told her she wasnt good enough" HONEY, THOSE ARE NOT FANS.

[bear]

“Katelyn has been competing on a fractured back and two torn shoulders” That’s really sad, she is such a warrior♥︎

[KarmaAkabane-imkr]

"They compared me to a bird that couldn't fly"
Shows impressive leap
I dont understand...

[almostthere]

I remember always thinking how incredibly sad she looked, and no wonder. There’s a huge burden on these kids to be thin enough and strong enough and smile through pain. Hearing from others you are not thin enough or look good enough is heartbreaking. She look beautiful, have always been beautiful and I have never seen her as fat. That woman is 100% muscles.

I am very happy she found her smile again. We live once and it is important to spend out short time on earth doing things we enjoy.

[irisyueh]

Girl, you ain’t fat or big, that’s pure muscle right there. I would give anything to be even half as strong as you

[kyo]

falling out of love with something that you love to do is heartbreaking.

[inge]

omg girl u look so much happier and healthier afterwards!! who cares about competitions, medals or awards!! this is YOU, in the glory of your life!! go get em tiger

[Mystikphobe]

It’s so sad seeing children have their innocence taken over something that they once enjoyed without fear. I’m so happy to see this woman staying true to herself and stepping down to enjoy it again

[angelaluciano]

Whatever they’re doing at UCLA is incredible their gymnasts look incredibly healthy and happy and they are all killing the competitions!

[swimfreak]

She looks 10000x healthier and happier in the college gym than she did at the elite competitions. She’s beautiful and an inspiration to so many. Even non-gymnasts.

[annalise]

It’s ridiculous how people called her fat. She is clearly all muscle and SHES HAPPY and that’s all that matters. People are cruel but it’s only because they’re JEALOUS.

Edit: For all of those people bashing me, a 12 year old for mistaking they’re and their DONE I fixed it!

Edit 2: To the people telling me to f—- off and replying that I commented for attention and trashing U.S athletes, that hurts. First of all, just turned 12, and when you swear like that hurts even more. Second of all, I wrote this because I was a gymnast for 5 years and am still a huge fan of the sport, I also know the struggle and how much it hurts to be body shamed. That’s why I wrote this. And lastly, for everyone bashing U.S athletes, you can’t even imagine how hard they work. Skills like Katelyn’s or ANY athletes take hard work. A LOT OF HARD WORK. And to say they are “fake Olympian’s” and that they have “steroids pouring out of their ears”(honey thats talent pouring out) is not only incredibly rude but also very uneducated.

[geraldinecayamanda]

Much credit must be given to Ms. Val, her coach in college who nurtured her talent and became not only the best coach she had, but became her best friend as well.