From player to coach: How injuries changed Marina Mancione’s gymnastics career

DGS Senior Marina Mancione spent last season sitting out, dealing with lingering back pain from an injury sustained at the age of eleven. That injury was a severe hairline fracture of the C5 vertebrae. Six years later, the injury has officially ended her gymnastics career.

“I thought it would just be a normal practice … I was on the trampoline and then out of nowhere I couldn’t move. I had to go to three different hospitals and was out of school for two months. When I went back to practice about a year later, I couldn’t find the drive I used to have and it was very hard for me to feel comfortable tumbling again,” Mancione said.

 Mancione fell in love with gymnastics at the age of four. She put herself through rigorous training and non-stop practice. She didn’t think of the possible consequences.

“Starting training at such a young age was really stressful, my coach was incredibly strict… He pushed my entire team to succeed and that’s what made me such a competitive gymnast. My whole team struggled with the workload and criticism, but in the long run it was what really shaped us into becoming such strong athletes,” Mancione said.

While she unable to participate, Mancione remained involved in gymnastics by coaching. She plans on remaining involved with her club team, Xtreme Power Tumbling, as a coach this year and in the future.

“Coaching kept me in touch with the sport I grew up with and fell in love with…  being able to give that to the kids I coached made me incredibly happy since I could not give it to myself anymore,” Mancione said.

Mancione will miss the thrill of competition, but is excited to put that chapter behind her and help the gymnasts of the future.

“Gymnastics has really shaped me into who I am today, my tough coaches and rigorous training showed me strength, leadership and brought out the competitive side of me that I still have and [I] don’t plan on getting rid of it any time soon,” Mancione said.