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Hello all. My name is Jan, I am 17 years old and I am about to be a senior in high school. In many ways, I am a typical high school student, going to pursue a degree after high school (hopefully mech engineering or civil engineering), playing sports (rugby, wrestling, weightlifting), music, extracurriculars, etc. What separates me is my will and dedication to the awesome sport of gymnastics. I found gymnastics about a year and a half ago. Well technically, I was inspired first by street workout and then was baffled at the strength of gymnasts when I bought my first pair of rings. So far, I have been training seriously for about a year, but it was only from this last month that I have decided to ONLY train for gymnastics strength elements (such as maltese, pl, bl, fl, etc). Well actually I lift weights once a week, the only exercise being deadlifts. I have tried all the other events, like pommel horse, high bar, floor, parallel bars, and vault. Currently, I can press to handstand both pike and straddle, hold an L sit for about 40 seconds, hold a full back lever for 10 seconds, hold a straddle front lever for 5 seconds (I know it needs work), and hold an advanced tuck planche for around 20 seconds. I am also learning how to backflip. Reading around the forums, it seems to me that I am progressing pretty quickly (at least in my opinion). I train at least 5 days a week, 7 times a week. To be honest, training for gymnastics has been a blast and I feel that I am a natural at it. I have the dedication to keep working and eventually hone my skills to possibly make it big (well actually, I'll be realistic; I know I won't be going to the Olympics or anything but at least self train myself to at least be in the NAIGC or even the NCAA). I truly love training because of the mobility aspect of gymnastics, combined with the functional strength you do not get in any other sport. I plan to join a gym, attend a few open gyms a month, and possibly save up for some of the programs on gymnasticbodies. In college, I wish to participate in some kind of gymnastics club, such as the NAIGC. ANYWAYS, here is my question. I was wondering if there are any fortunate gymnasts who have started around my age and have succeeded in the competitive sport of gymnastics. Or at least made it to the NCAA. I want to make realistic goals for myself. Although I know I train more than I even study sometimes, I know there has to be a limit for what I can accomplish. Thanks in advance!

I'm looking for some advice on proper technique for holding the inverted cross. Unfortunately information on this hold is a little hard to come by: I couldn't find anything by searching the forum, and neither BTGB nor OG have any information. The way I've seen it done in competition, the gymnast generally has a slight arch in the back and elevated shoulders, so I've basically been trying to emulate that. What I've been focusing on is: - Keep the shoulders elevated; if the shoulders start to depress, terminate the hold. - Slightly arch the back to engage more of the pectoral/chest muscles - Rings at shoulder height - Push really hard Am I missing anything? For review, this is a hold I performed during a workout 11 days ago, with a 30# counterweight: Thanks in advance for any advice!