Author: Rick Mc

Emma Nedov retired from gymnastics, came back nine months before the Paris Olympics, and walked into the stadium at 28. In this Back to Basics conversation, the Australian Olympian shares how the comeback really started, what it took to get there, and the community she is building for the next generation of gymnasts. Emma Nedov is an Australian Olympian (Paris 2024), a two-time Australian national beam champion, and a World Cup gold medalist. She is the creator of High Tea with Emma, co-founder of ND Network, and founder of NYRA (Not Your Regular Athlete). In this episode: • What it felt like to walk back into the gym after retiring, and why the first kip did not happen • Overcoming injuries on the road to Paris • "I didn't love being ordinary": the mindset behind the comeback • Walking out into the stadium at the Paris Olympics • Why beam deserves its own training, and the coaches who shaped her • Winning beam gold at the Baku World Cup • How High Tea with Emma started, and why it may be coming to America • ND Network, NYRA, and the state of Australian gymnastics • Her advice to a young gymnast who feels like quitting CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Emma Nedov 00:56 The 2020 retirement decision 01:37 Day one back: the kip on the low bar 03:04 The first practice back 03:31 Calling the coach across the street 04:57 "I think that we can do this" 05:23 Overcoming injuries 10:33 "I didn't love being ordinary" 13:01 Finding her identity outside gymnastics 15:08 Why 20 years of gymnastics "wasn't for nothing" 16:12 Supporting athletes through retirement 17:30 The road to Paris 20:54 Walking out into the stadium 22:25 Why beam deserves its own training 23:09 Learning from Chinese national team coaches 25:17 Beam drills for every gymnast 29:03 Beam gold at the Baku World Cup 32:12 How High Tea with Emma started 39:02 Taking High Tea to America 41:15 ND Network 45:35 NYRA: Not Your Regular Athlete 46:39 The state of Australian gymnastics 49:41 The 2016 Rio test event 52:19 Advice for a gymnast who feels like quitting FOLLOW EMMA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejnedov/ Website: https://emmanedov.com WATCH AND READ Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gymnasticsville  Read the story: https://gymnasticsville.com/emma-nedov-gymnastics-comeback-paris-olympian/  SUBSCRIBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gymnasticsville-podcast/id1236969576  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EZvLhd543Iw0YlwlkhBds?si=kURxLtagT2S98aqLTYOQkA&utm_source=sms  FOLLOW GYMNASTICSVILLE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gymnasticsville/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gymnasticsvillehq  Newsletter and more: https://gymnasticsville.com