Nathalia Sanchez | Love Your Body
What got you involved in the sport, and who were the people who helped you get into the sport?
I started gymnastics in 2003 in Columbia. I'm on the Colombian National Team and my first competition was eight months after I started gymnastics. I became a national champion in my age during junior. Here in Columbia, it's hard to be a gymnast because here gymnastics isn't a big sport. It's hard because we have to wait for the government to pay for trips and competition. Sometimes they don't have the money. it's tough sometimes. My coach saw something in me and he started helping me with everything. We started just having fun, and when I became a national champion he told me I had something and I could achieve anything. He told me I had to work a little harder and that's what I did. I told him I wanted to go to the Olympics and he said 'yes you can but we have to train more'. It was hard but I saw the results.
What has been your biggest achievement to date, and what is your ultimate goal in gymnastics?
My biggest achievement is being the first Colombian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. I qualified at the 2007 World Championships. That was a dream come true. I think that my biggest accomplishment. In 2008, I became a silver medalist in the World Cup in Glasgow, Scotland in uneven bars. that was the first medal at the World Cup for a Colombian as well. The in 2010, it was the World Cup in Portugal. I won gold and silver. I won Gold in balance beam, and silver in uneven bars. Those are my two best events in gymnastics. My ultimate goal in gymnastics is to do what I'm doing now. I retired in 2011 after World's in Tokyo because I didn't qualify for the London Olympics. I came fourth in the Pan-American Championships. that day I decided I needed a break.
Gymnastics is known to have long term effects on growth/ your body, what is something you’d tell parents of kids interested in the sport about this?
Everyone talks about how gymnastics gets your small. That is not true. 'You're short because you're family is short'. If you're a good gymnast, sometimes the coaches are looking for short gymnasts. Sometimes its better to be short in gymnastics. Taller and longer gymnasts like Nastia (Liukin) are good too.
Gymnasts are often viewed as 'scary or manly' because of the intensity of the sport, and how it trains all body parts. How have you coped with this? Do you embrace it or is it still an insecurity?
Your body is going to change. you get muscles, you get strong, and sometimes your family isn't going to like the muscles you get as a result of it. But you know, if you love the gym it doesn't matter. When you stop you will lose your muscles, so it's not for life.
What does your diet consist of?
I eat a lot of meat, vegetable and fruits. I drink water. I don't drink juice, I don't drink sodas and I sleep well. Maybe once a day I'll eat a bad meal. I'll eat those things people crave every once and a while. Throughout the week I eat normal. I eat chicken, fish, meat, vegetables, not many carbs and drink a lot of water.
How has gymnastics changed your life?
It changed my life because I grew up in a city that didn't have much money. My family didn't have much money. I had to do a lot. I had to walk to the gym. I had to do a lot. Gymnastics gave me some support. Once I made the national team, the Olympic Committee helped me and everything. I got a house because I won a gold medal in a competition that's an important competition for Colombia. This is all thanks to gymnastics.
For people starting out in the sport, what are some tips you would give?
A tip that I would give people starting any sport is take your time. You have to know that it is step by step. Don't pretend to be a champion in the first week, or first month, it takes time, but if you do what your coach says and try your best, it will happen. So take it easy, enjoy yourself and take it step by step.
What defines health and healthy to you?
Health is not only the body, but also the mind. Health is when we are completely in control of our body and our mind. Health is being able to keep negativity out of your mind, and avoiding injuries when performing a work out. Health is keeping your body and mind in good shape, being happy and good.
How has gymnastics helped with your self-esteem?
it helped because I started being able to do things that other people couldn't do. that helped me a lot understand that what I'm doing is special because not everyone can do it. I really like my body. I like my abs, my biceps, my triceps and my legs. I am really confident in my body. When I'm not doing gymnastics, like right now after surgery, I find things to work out so I can keep my body shape. Gymnastics has helped me achieve my dream body as well.