Athletics

Qualifying for the 2024 Olympics

N Our Voice by Csenge Bácskay

Scott Bruhn

Well, I tried.

Sometimes, when you're competing at the highest level against some of the best athletes in the world, you can do your best and still come up short.

That's exactly what happened on qualification day at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships in Belgium.

I finished in 11th place in the vault, which isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. I was certainly proud of myself, but it also meant I was the second reserve.

As a general rule, second reserves don't often compete in the final, which meant I wouldn't have a chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Since I was a little girl, I've always dreamed of competing in the Olympics one day. In the sport of gymnastics, there isn't a higher honor than competing for your country on the world stage.

While I wouldn't be competing at the 2024 Olympics, I still had lots to look forward to in my gymnastics career for my home country of Hungary and my college team.

But in a dramatic turn of events, I received word on a 45-minute notice that I was going to compete in the finals after all.

I had every possible emotion going through me at that moment, but I didn't want my mind to get the better of me and lose focus.

I had waited my entire life for this moment, and I was going to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity that just had been presented to me.

An immediate connection

I remember scrolling through Instagram when I was younger and seeing all of these videos of college gymnasts. 

I've been involved in gymnastics almost my entire life and have always had such a strong passion for it, so I thought being a collegiate gymnast would be a tremendous experience.

Being from Budapest, I knew it'd be a little difficult for colleges in America to notice me, so I just sent out a bunch of emails to several different universities, hoping for a reply.

It's funny looking back on it now because I ended up committing to the first school that replied to me in Nebraska. I can't say that committing to the first school that contacted me was necessarily the plan, but from the moment we started talking, I felt an immediate connection.

I could picture myself competing for this university, and after talking to the coaches, I knew they'd help push me to new heights over the next four years.

Coming to Nebraska was an opportunity to not only experience college gymnastics, but also to discover a whole new culture. I had never been to America before, so this was a chance to get to know a different way of life and make new friends. 

It was about more than just gymnastics; it was about embracing the college experience as a whole.

One step closer to my dream

My first season at Nebraska didn't go exactly how I imagined it would.

I suffered a stress fracture in my right ankle just before the season began, and that injury hindered me for much of the season.

Since I didn't get to compete as much as I would have hoped, I greatly looked forward to competing at the World Championships to hopefully qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

As I mentioned before, when I competed in the qualifiers and made it to second reserve, I was ready to turn the page. 

It wasn't meant to be for me this time.

Or so I thought.

We were on a bus going to the gym when my coach told me that two girls ahead of me got injured, which opened up a spot for me in the final. 

I had 45 minutes to get my head right and shift my mindset.

Just a few minutes before, I was trying to look at the positives of just missing out on my dream, and in an instant, everything changed.

For those that don't know, according to the official rules, if you make it to the finals and compete, you automatically qualify for the Olympics. 

In that respect, you'd think this would've taken the pressure off me.

Not so much.

It was so stressful because this was a moment I waited my entire life for, and in the back of my mind, I feared for the worst. 

Performing my routine without getting injured is what I worried about the most.

But when it was time to go out there, I put all of my worries to the side. I didn't even think about the Olympics.

I just wanted to get through my routine and deliver it to the best of my ability.

After I competed in the final, it was a mix of disbelief and joy. I couldn't believe that I had made it to that point and was one step closer to accomplishing my dream of competing in the Olympics.

I still have to pinch myself when I think about it. It's a moment that will stay with me forever, and a reminder of what hard work and perseverance can lead to.

Focused on the present

With the Olympics on the horizon next year, I can't begin to describe how much excitement and anticipation I have. It's a chance to represent my country, my family, and all the people who have supported me since day one.

But I also don't want to look too far ahead. With my injury-riddled freshman season, I'm hungrier than ever as I get ready to compete in my second season at Nebraska. I'm fully recovered from my ankle injury and feel strong and determined to compete for a full season this year.

While my family is far away in Hungary, I wouldn't be in the position I am without them. 

Their love, support and encouragement means everything to me, and I can't wait to see them when they come visit me in Lincoln later this year.

I also owe a great debt of gratitude to two incredible athletes who have inspired me on this crazy journey in gymnastics: Simone Biles and Shawn Johnson.

Watching Shawn Johnson's routines on YouTube with my mom when I was just a young girl ignited a deep admiration for her. I wanted to be like her — captivate the audience and leave a lasting impression.

If I can inspire half as many young girls as those two incredible women have, then I'll know the future of our sport is in good hands.

As I look ahead to my college career at Nebraska and beyond, I know that there will be challenges along the way. Injuries, mental pressures, and the weight of expectations are all part of the sport. But what keeps me going is my passion, the support of my loved ones, and the feeling of stepping foot on that Olympic stage.

It's not going to be easy, but nothing worth achieving ever is.

I'm going to continue to train, compete and chase my dreams, one flip at a time.