Nya Reed - Florida Gymnastics
“Gymnastics has meant the world to me. It has opened numerous doors for me. Growing up, I was involved in several sports and I had no clue I would get this far, or even be blessed with the talent I have. Gymnastics has taught me passion, love, confidence and discipline. There is an adrenaline rush fueling my passion and love for gymnastics as I work every day to become better.”
“I want to continue working toward my potential so I’m ready to shine when it’s time to compete. Knowing that I’ve put in the hard work gives me confidence when it is my moment to perform. Confidence shows fierceness in my mind. Gymnastics has instilled in me the discipline needed to accomplish my goals and the focus to continue reaching for new challenges. Sports can be demanding but discipline doesn’t allow the strongest athletes to give up.”
“Some obstacles that I’ve overcome include being told I would never be anything or even be able to go to the school I attend now. I had a club gymnastics coach who told me I would never be as good as the girls I watched on TV. He also told me I would never be able to do gymnastics at a D1 level. Constantly hearing that ignited a fire in me to push myself to prove him and others wrong. Another challenge I’m still working on is believing in myself. I am still working on trusting in myself and knowing I can do whatever I put my mind to.”
“Gymnastics has allowed me to connect with people different than me. I’ve been able to meet several amazing people from many different cultures. I have been able to build lifelong friendships as well as develop relationships with people who will always be my mentors. I have met people who have made me wiser and shown me a successful leadership style that I want to model.”
“I would like people to know that as an African American athlete, you should never doubt yourself. The color of your skin does not define what you can accomplish in life. Sometimes you may need to work harder than others, but hard work does eventually pay off. Lastly, always keep your head up. The losses you face are part of your journey. The struggles that you might endure in life make you the individual you are when success comes into your life.”
“In terms of racism I would like every athlete - no matter their race - to feel comfortable on their team, in their athletic facility, at their job, as well as in the world. Nobody should be treated differently because of the color of their skin. What I want is for everyone to be given a fair shot at being great. If this were to happen, we would live in a better world.”
