Kyla Ross – PerformHappy Podcast Interview

Welcome, everybody, to the PerformHappy Podcast.  Today, we have with us former Elite and Olympic gymnast, Kyla Ross!  Kyla was a member of the Olympic Gymnastic team known as the Fierce Five, and is a five-time medalist at world championships!  Our conversation covers her journey from Elite to Olympic to Collegiate gymnast, and how that has shaped who she is today

• 0:35 – Gymnastics was love at first sight!
• 2:10 – Mindset shift when she started training for higher levels – she started recognizing the commitment and making sacrifices
• 2:55 – Difficult time finding motivation and drive in the gym – developed my fear of tumbling backwards at 9 or 10 years old
• 3:35 – Kyla struggled to find happiness in the gym when she was struggling with her skills
• 4:45 – As her beam series progressed, she was SCARED.  How she worked with coaches and used other surfaces and mental imagery to work through her fear and have full confidence
• 5:35 – Asking for spots and using positive self-talk
• 8:00 – Motivated by other aspects of gymnastics – she stayed focused on what she enjoyed and steered away from negativity
• 9:45 – Support from her parents
• 11:00 – Kyla’s name was called for the Olympic team!
• 12:00 – Kyla’s proudest moment
• 14:10 – Focusing on gymnastics – it became a job instead of her passion

Kyla ended her Elite career and focused on college

• 15:00 – Starting a new chapter. “My heart and passion for the sport changed.”

Set goals and do whatever you can to achieve them!

• 17:00 – Deciding on UCLA
• 18:45 – Determined to do as well as she could to hit perfect routines – do your best
• 20:10 – Kyla’s record-setting path

Being willing to get back up after failing more important than a perfect 10

• 21:10 – You have the power to change the outcome
• 22:00 – Each meet is a fresh start
• 23:00 – Visualizing her routines over and over to get into the competition mindset
• 25:00 – Having doubts held her back – love and passion pushed her through
• 28:20 – Avoiding a toxic mindset

It’s ok to make mistakes! There’s always room for growth.

• 29:40 – Remember, gymnastics is a hobby and a passion, not the end all be all
• 30:00 – What’s next for Kyla?