Although Nastia Luikn won the all-around gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, her true dream is to posses a team gold medal. Along with her gold medal, she won three silver medals, which did not sit right with her; those silver medals have provoked her to try and make a comeback at the 2012 London Olympics.
Luikin took two years off from competitive gymnastics, promoting gymnastics and appearing in the media, however, in the last year, her true dreams could not be denied anymore. She began to go back to her normal training routine to get back into tip-top shape. Although she does want a comeback, she knows that in the gymnastics world, she is a tad bit older than the norm. Usually women gymnasts are at their peak in the late teens; Luikin is twenty-two years old now. She has decided to focus only on her strengths, and abandon the vault event.
Taking those two years off has allowed Luikin’s body to grow, giving her a new body to compete with. Usually, that would be a problem for most girls, but Luikin also has a different mindset and a strong drive to help her make it to the 2012 Olympics. Luikin’s only motive for trying to make a return is for her- because she loves the sport of gymnastics.
I commend Luikin (and all the other ladies who came back from the Beijing games), and wish them all the best in their hope to make the USA team! You ladies are amazing!
*Find the full article on Luikin’s comeback here.
Gymnastics 