As a child, I was never the ‘gymnastics kid’. I dabbled in ballet for a while, skipping around the kitchen in pink satin shoes and an oversized tutu. But I clearly wasn’t destined to go far. “Kick your leg higher!” my teacher would plead. I stood, hand gently resting on the bar, feeling both frustrated and utterly dejected. Even back then, my lack of flexibility was clear to see.

That’s precisely why I never once considered taking up gymnastics. It was as much of a mental barrier as a physical one. At 5’11”, my height doesn’t exactly make me prima ballerina material – nor, for that matter, does it make me ideally proportioned to become a superstar gymnast. 

Former Team USA gymnast and seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles stands at 4’8”. Her petite but muscular frame exudes power, while her low centre of gravity adds stability and balance. Look back at the list of gymnasts who have snatched an Olympic gold since 1976, and the average height comes in at a mere 4’11”.