Case Study: The future pathway that combines hard work with fun
As an international student-athlete that follows US sport, you probably understand how highly Americans value the sport of gymnastics.
The US collegiate system is the perfect place to develop into a disciplined young gymnast. With US gymnastics generating superstar Olympic athletes like Simone Biles, other countries struggle to compete with the US and their level of competition.
In 2015, 86 US colleges across NCAA divisions 1 and 2 sponsored varsity level gymnastics teams, indicating there are a wide variety of opportunities across the US for aspiring international student-athletes.
NSR encourages young Australian students who have a passion for gymnastics to take the opportunity to explore the US collegiate system as it offers pathways to higher education and sport in an international setting. 
Insights from student-athletes in the college system or planning on doing so are a fantastic resource to have in order to understand the full extent of the US college opportunity.
Despite not being an international athlete, Alyssa Gardner, a passionate gymnast from New York, recognises the value of the US college gymnastics opportunity as a way to continue a hunger for competitive sport with further studies.
“It opened my eyes that there was something other than the Olympics (for gymnasts), something more fun,” Alyssa said.
Alyssa, a competitive athlete since an early age, found that taking sport to the highest possible level meant she would have to sacrifice her education and succumb to the pressures of pursuing sport as her career.
Following the US college pathway allows an aspiring athlete to immerse themselves in a disciplined sporting environment, while pursuing a high level of education.
Not only will future NSR college gymnasts have the chance to develop as athletes and earn a world class degree, they will be building themselves into a strong worker who will be highly regarded by potential future employers.
A variety of locations across the US embrace college gymnastics programs
