The world took notice when Simone Biles pulled out of the vault at the Tokyo Olympics. An elite gymnast who had already cracked the code, winning four golds in her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, crumbled under pressure. And while the sports world had showcased a plethora of reactions to Biles’ decision, one thing was true. The gymnastics icon had shown the world a lesser-known side of the sport.

It seems ever since Biles’ actions on the grandest stage in sports, more gymnasts at all levels have come forward with their stories. The most recent confession comes from 18-year-old former gymnast Catalina Santos Moran Diaz. Born in 2006, the youngest showed immense promise from a very young age but was completely “burned out” even before she turned 15.

The harrowing confession of once-promising gymnastics star

As surprising as it may be to hear the word burnout from a teenage gymnast, it’s becoming increasingly common. Even a legend such as Nadia Comăneci, who won her first Olympic medal at 14, had distanced herself from the competition even before turning 20. However, the former junior champion’s confession reveals that such instances are more common than many realize.

“I gave up many years of my life because that was part of the contract to success. I spent 30-40 hours a week in the hall, I could never attend other children’s birthdays and I could not participate in class trips either. Very little time left for family and friends but especially for myself,” the former gymnastics star wrote on Instagram.

This constant pursuit of glory blinded the young gymnast from the “wrongdoings” directed toward her. “As a child, I didn’t understand the mental dependence I had towards my trainer,” confessed the former member of the Krefeld-Fischeln-Vorst gymnastics center gymnast. The gymnast confessed all she’d been taught was to “obey blindly in order to be ‘enough'”.

“I experienced over years of physical & mental abuse, humiliation, and developed an eating disorder,” added the 18-year-old. These words echoed a similar sentiment to what Jordan Chiles confessed about her younger years. “From being 15 years old now, my mindset had always been Olympics, Olympics, Olympics. It was nonstop.” Chiles revealed about her journey to the Olympics.

Similarly, earning accolades became the litmus test for Santos Moran Diaz’s self-worth. And for years, the talented young gymnast sacrificed everything to compete. She even shared the gymnastics stage with Paris 2024 bronze medalist Ana Barbosu at the 2019 Swiss Cup. Unfortunately, the relentless chase for gymnastics glory became too much, physically and mentally.

“At 14, I stopped exercising because the mental pressure became unbearable,” said the gymnast. However, physically, she didn’t fare any better with a herniated disk forcing her to stop. Now, four years down the line, the former gymnastics star has finally found the courage to reveal the truth. Thankfully, she isn’t alone.

Fellow German gymnasts are also raising their voice

Catalina Santos Moran Diaz is now among three German gymnasts who have narrated the darker side of cashing gymnastics glory. On December 21, Emelie Petz recounted her career. Petz’s gymnastics journey isn’t so different from that of Moran Diaz. From mental and physical struggles to developing an eating disorder, Petz underwent a similar experience while training at Stuttgart.

Petz also explained her ‘worth’ being tied to how well she performed on the gymnastics mat. “My injury has shown me that some people are only interested in me when I am successful,” confessed the elite gymnast. While she never blamed the sport, the practices that pushed gymnasts to the brink left Petz with “scars.”

Yet another gymnast who spoke up against the ruling system that ground her down was Amelie Pfeil. Pfeil, who also trained alongside Catalina Santos Moran Diaz, spoke about her own harrowing journey. However, once again, it was largely similar to her contemporaries. Just like Moran Diaz and Petz, the system that broke her spirit.

“Every day felt like a battle—not for gymnastics, but for survival in the system,” wrote the 20-year-old. “I’ve seen so many people break down from this—and in the end, myself,” Amelie Pfeil added to her confession. Finally, both Moran Diaz and Pfeil called for change. While they walked away from gymnastics, they didn’t want others to face the same challenges. However, only time will tell if anything truly changes.