In women’s gymnastics, stories of athletes defying age are rare — but incredibly powerful. Long viewed as a sport for the young, only a few exceptional women continue to challenge that idea. Legendary Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, now 49, has become a symbol of longevity in the sport, competing in eight consecutive Olympic Games and still setting her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics despite missing out on Paris 2024. Now, another inspiring figure is stepping into the spotlight.

On April 26, CBS Colorado shared the story of Angela Fuller, a 44-year-old gymnast who’s rewriting what it means to chase your dreams, no matter the odds. Fuller’s passion for gymnastics started early. As she told CBS Colorado, “I actually started gymnastics when I was five years old. I was doing flips off the bars at school, and they told my mommy she should put me in gymnastics.”  However, her journey took a devastating turn after college.

A severe car accident left her with compression fractures in her back, herniated discs, and nerve impingement damage. Forced to walk away from the sport she loved, Angela faced a long road of recovery and change.

But some passions never fade. At 41, after decades away from the mat, Angela decided it was time to come home to gymnastics. Now, at 44, she shows up at the gym day after day, driven not just by skill, but by pure heart and determination. And Angela’s determination runs deep.

Last year, in an interview with the Associated Press, the Colorado native opened up about the long road back. “I was out of the sport for 27 years, and 14 of those years, I was completely done as an athlete,” she shared. “I always dreamt of doing gymnastics again. Every single night, I would picture myself doing it. And so once I healed my back, I decided that I wanted to make the full comeback.” 

Of course, dreaming about it was easier than actually doing it. Meanwhile, reality hit hard. As Fuller admitted, “It is very difficult being an athlete with two teenage boys, of course, and I train late nights, seven to nine pm. But chasing my dreams means so much to me, and showing them that they can face their fears and conquer any obstacle is incredible.” And conquer obstacles, she did.

Angela went on to make history, becoming the oldest gymnast in the country to complete all 14 events in the NAIGC (National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs) Gymnastics Omnithon — and she didn’t just participate, rather she thrived. “Get off the sidelines of your life. It’s not too late to chase your own dreams,” she said to CBS Colorado yesterday. Fuller took home a silver medal in the men’s all-around competition, claimed another silver on parallel bars, earned a bronze on vault, and placed in the top 5 in synchro trampoline out of 53 teams. Apart from that, she achieved something more. 

The gymnastics star in Zumba and the fight or Ninja Warriors 

By living out her dream of becoming a competitive gymnast again, Angela Fuller didn’t just stop at one milestone — she crushed another major goal along the way. She became a fitness instructor, using her journey to uplift others.

“Becoming a fitness instructor allowed me to share my story and empower others, especially moms,” Angela shared in an interview last year. Her confidence soared to new heights when she was invited to be the closing speaker at a Zumba convention, standing in front of a roaring crowd of 4,500 people.

But that was just the beginning. From competing on American Ninja Warrior as the oldest female participant from Colorado to being featured across news outlets, podcasts, and global media, Angela’s platform grew — and so did her belief in her own strength. Every stage, every spotlight became another way to prove that dreams don’t expire — they evolve.