If you follow Snowflake Designs on social media (and you should!), you know about our gymnast ambassadors. They are a hand-selected group of gymnasts who are passionate about gymnastics and Snowflake Designs and want to share that love with their friends and followers on their social media. They each have their own unique story to tell, and we like to feature those stories here on our blog.

Today's story comes from Ambassador Lyla,or @gymnastlyla on Instagram. She is a 9-year-old Level 4 gymnast from Connecticut. When she’s not walking on her hands or at the gym, she’s reading a good book, watching Ultimate Beastmasters, or playing with her little brother. She wants to share why she loves being a gymnast.

Gymnast in pink Snowflake leotard.

The 10 Reasons I Love Being a Gymnast

I started gymnastics when I was 2 ½ years old. My mom put me in class because I was born with well-defined biceps and she said I was born to do something amazing! Gymnastics class was fun for me and I loved learning things within my classes.

At my gym, they did trophy days for the recreational classes and when I got my first trophy, I told my mom I wanted to win lots more trophies and medals with gymnastics. After that, my mom talked to the coaches about getting me on the team track. I just finished my first year on the team and I loved it!

Gymnast with medals and trophy at a gymnastics meet.

Loving the medals and trophies!

I’ve completely dedicated myself and my free time to be about gymnastics. It’s my thing and I love that. There are so many reasons why gymnastics is such an important part of my life but here are my top ten reasons:

  1. My body is healthy. I’m strong and fit and I know I’m doing good things for my body with all the hard work I put into the sport of gymnastics.
  2. I love learning new skills. Gymnastics is hard! But when you work even harder than ever and can get that new skill you’ve been practicing forever, it’s so rewarding!
  3. I have the best team. I get to see my teammates all week and we have so much fun together. We’re a big family! Whenever I want to do something in my free time, I want to spend that time with my gymnastic teammates. I’m closer to them than anyone at school.
  4. Competing and winning is so much fun. When I get to showcase the skills I’ve worked on at meets, it means so much to earn trophies and medals for that hard work.
  5. I get to spend my free time at the gym with my friends after school. Instead of being home bored, I get to be somewhere I love, the gym!
  6. I love leotards! Especially my Snowflake leotards! Leotards are so cool to have and wear. They're one of the best reasons why gymnastics is the best sport!
  7. At a young age, I learned that hard work pays off. I know that if I work hard every day and do conditioning and get stronger, it will make me a better gymnast. This sport really shows what hard work and dedication can do for an athlete.
  8. Gymnastics has so many amazing role models. I remember watching the London Olympics and being completely obsessed with Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman. When the Rio games were on, I loved watching Simone Biles and the team. I even got to meet Laurie Hernandez. It was so amazing to watch her and then meet her and learn from her.
  9. I can do gymnastics anywhere! That is one of the best perks of the sport. At home, at my Gramma’s house, at the store even; I can do gymnastics to practice my skills and condition or simply do handstand holds as long as I can.
  10. Gymnastics has given me goals to achieve that I’m not sure I’d have with another sport. I’d love to go to the Olympics someday or join a college team. Having goals helps me focus and work hard every day to be the best I can be.

I am so grateful that this sport is my thing. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Gymnastics is the best thing that has happened to me in my short life so far!

Ambassador in a colorful gymnastics leotard.

One of my favorite gymnastic leotards!