Performhappy With Rebecca Smith

Injuries and mental blocks can feel scary and isolating for gymnasts and parents. In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast I sit down with PerformHappy coach Stephanie Gaumer  to talk about confidence, fear, perfectionism, and what it really takes to come back when the sport suddenly feels harder than it used to.One of the biggest challenges gymnasts face is the mental side of the sport. Even athletes who look confident on the outside can struggle with fear, overthinking, and self doubt. Stephanie shares how she would sometimes go into practice and suddenly feel unsure of skills she had done for years. After a major ankle injury in high school, she also had to work through fear of reinjury and the frustration of not being where she used to be.Instead of letting those challenges stop her, Stephanie leaned into mindset and support. Staying connected to her team during recovery helped her push through the isolation that injuries can bring. She also worked with a sports psychologist who helped her focus on wha