I was encouraged to use my voice and explore my passions outside of the sport. And when I did that, I was finally able to realize my true self-worth. I was more than that of a gymnast.

Katelyn Ohashi

Categorized in : True Realize Self-Worth Voice

It's not me standing on the podium with medals. It's me being able to walk out with a smile on my face and truly being happy with myself.

walk myself me smile

There are so many things that we have to be grateful for. It gets so easy to get caught up with one thing that, you know, isn't perfect or not going the way you thought it would, but we always need to be grateful for what we have.

thought you grateful way

I think what I show is joy when I do stuff, so I think always having a love for what you do every single day is something that I hold extremely close to my heart because I know what it's like to not feel that.

day you heart love

I have always wanted my routine to spark joy for all people.

spark always joy people

My back is permanently messed up.

messed back up messed-up

My teammates and my coaches have all allowed me to step into my individuality and not be defined by just being a gymnast.

teammates step being me

I've been told I looked like I swallowed an elephant or a pig, whichever was more fitting that day.

elephant more day like

You can still get results without abuse.

without you abuse results

The Olympics were something that was put in my path. I knew I was capable, I worked so hard for it, so I guess it's like, Why wouldn't I want to go to the Olympics? But it was never something that I was really, really dead set on. It was just what my coaches and everyone else forced upon me.

dead never me path

Using my voice has empowered me to take complete ownership of my life. So, in return for speaking my truth, I listen.

my-life me truth life

There's days when my body's better than other days. It still gives me problems. But it's very manageable. Rehab is forever my friend.

friend problems better me

As a gymnast, I've always compartmentalized my life, which is a blessing and a curse. But over time, I've learned that my sport doesn't fully define me, and I think that's where a lot of the joy in my routines comes from now: I'm not compartmentalizing as much, and I know who I am beyond my sport.

me blessing time life

Be yourself. It's really important not to try and be someone else.

be-yourself yourself try important

How I've always felt is that the fun in gymnastics got taken away from me too soon.

how me always fun

I think I finally have really taken ownership of myself and me as a gymnast.

i-think myself think me

Before bed, I just brush my teeth and fall asleep. I don't usually wear makeup, but if I do, I'll wipe it off. Then it's pajamas and falling into bed, no other routine; I'm pretty good at just falling asleep right away.

wear good makeup fall

One habit that's important for keeping me mentally healthy is having meaningful conversations with the people around me. That's a habit that fuels my body and my mind. I also like to go to the beach and write, and I've been trying to focus on giving myself time to be alone.

alone myself me time

For dinner, I like to have a protein and veggies again. But because of my ulcerative colitis, really healthy foods are hard on my stomach. Sugars aren't good, and I have to be careful with vegetables. So it can be tough to find food that feels good.

good dinner tough food

Floor is where I get to express myself. That's, like my party time, like my play time.

myself party play time

In life, we are told to do or be so many different things and expected to fit so many different expectations; I think that's something I always had a hard time with.

think expectations time life