Most people think of gymnastics as nothing but a sport they see every four years on the Olympic broadcasts. But Timur Abdullin, head coach and technical director of Metropolitan Gym in Tacoma, Washington, sees gymnastics as a metaphor for life in many ways. And with his many successes, he’s proof that sport is a tool for endless learning.
Gymnastics offers profound insights into self-discovery, challenging oneself, and learning to deal with disappointment and frustration.
It provides a shorthand into what you must do to build resilience and determination, comparing the strength of mastering routines to dealing with many everyday challenges.
These reasons are why Abdullin, a former Kazakhstan National Junior Team member and President of the Federation of Gymnastics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, makes a balanced life the priority for his gymnastic students.
During his 16-year career as a professional athlete, he had seen peers leave the sport and get involved with drugs and alcohol to recover from the high pressure of being elite.
Timur made it his mission to prevent this from happening in the future and make positive changes to the world of gymnastics.
Transcending the Gym Floor
Life and Gymnastics mirror each other in several ways. People think of discipline and dedication when discussing Olympic and National athletes. With rigorous training, a demanding diet and exercise plan, and the pressure of expectations, a laser-focused mind is necessary when competing at that level.
Abdullin, both as a participant and judge at the Junior Olympics and Olympic Games, wants his students to regard their studies–and lives outside of the gym–as equally important as their training in the gym.
With that determination comes learning to set goals, create plans, and deal with the inevitable setbacks when taking risks. Building this confidence and resilience is something Abdullin sees as a skill set that resonates with the athlete’s whole life.
Most professional gymnasts have a career lasting 10 to 15 years; many retire in their mid-twenties while their cohorts are still wild and free. The experience of being disciplined will serve them well as they move deeper into their futures.
Gymnastics is as much a team sport as an individual one, and learning to excel as an individual while being part of a team is a valuable skill for life after athletics. Timur is often his athletes’ coach, mentor, and father figure.
Having worked with hundreds of gymnasts through his 24 years of coaching, he’s worked to maintain contact with them after they leave the sport–demonstrating how teamwork extends into relationships and community.
Helping the Next Generation
Having applied for his work visa and arriving in the United States in 2020, Timur worked as a senior trainer at Universal Gymnastics Academy in North Port, Florida.
He then became a United States Gymnastics Federation member and was a sitting judge at US Nationals in Tampa.
Now in Washington, he can qualify gymnasts for university scholarships in this position and has helped three of his star students achieve their goals.
These students accomplish great things because Abdullin teaches them to lead by example, confidently climbing the career ladder. This kind of experience makes strong kids into stronger adults.
Unlike most sports cultures that place achieving results as the pinnacle of success, Abdullin knows it’s being able to live all of life fully, giving value to your family and community, which is far more important than a medal or trophy.
About the Author
Denny Vokral writes about sports and photography in her spare time. She has won numerous awards for her features and resides in Carmel, California.
