Olympian Advocates Making Gymnastics Accessible For All
A Paris Olympian has joined the quest to make sure all kids have the opportunity to participate in gymnastics.
Young gymnasts across NSW are being forced to abandon the sport they love as rising costs drive them away from gymnastics at an alarming rate. With participation numbers plummeting primarily amongst lower socioeconomic families, Olympic gymnast Emma Nedov is speaking out, joining forces with the Y NSW (YMCA) to fight for more inclusive, accessible pathways to keep young athletes engaged.
Emma started gymnastics at aged 6 at the Y Epping in Sydney’s north-western suburbs. What started out as an activity to build confidence, burn energy and gross motor skills, turned into a launch pad for a career as an athlete and becoming an Olympic gymnast at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“For so many young kids, gymnastics is more than a sport, it’s a source of confidence, resilience and belonging. But right now, too many are being forced to discontinue gymnastics and many other sports due to rising costs,” said Nedov, a former Australian national team member and World Cup gold medalist.
“I’ve seen firsthand how financial strain can push young athletes away, and it’s heartbreaking. We need to do more to keep them in sport,” she added.
In New South Wales (NSW), gymnastics stands as the fourth most popular sport among children. Notably, 13.9% of female athletes under 14 participate in gymnastics, placing it third in popularity among sports for young girls. However, despite its popularity and that of other sports, more than 1 in 2 families are having to make sacrifices in their household budget to pay for their children’s sports or physical activities, or face having to stop those activities altogether.
“The statistics are stark, by the age of 14, nearly 50% of girls have quit sport and 46% of Australian parents shared that the financial commitment was a barrier to their child’s participation in out-of-school sport,” said George Perry, Chief Operating Officer of the Y NSW.
“If kids withdraw from sport when they are young, they are less likely to re-engage in sport or physical activity later in life, which can affect their health and wellbeing as adults.
“Here at the Y NSW we have been implementing changes to make gymnastics more accessible and inclusive for our young athletes through a new grants program,” added Mr Perry.
Emma Nedov was a special guest at the recent Y NSW’s Voices for Change event that aimed to raise funds for critical youth programs including those that help keep young athletes in gymnastics.
Hosted by ABC presenter Jacinta Parsons, the event showcased powerful firsthand stories from young people impacted by the Y NSW’s initiatives, followed by a live pledging session to drive real change.
The Y Gymnastics Fund helps ensure that no child is held back from pursuing their passion due to financial hardship.
“This isn’t just about gymnastics, it’s about giving young people the chance to stay active, build resilience, and feel like they belong,” said Emma.
“Whether it’s their first forward roll or training for competition, every child deserves the chance to experience the joy, confidence, and lifelong benefits that gymnastics brings. Together, we can make sure every aspiring gymnast has the opportunity to thrive, because talent should never be limited by circumstance,” she concluded.
For more information on the Y NSW’s services visit www.ymcansw.org.au or to support the Y NSW grants program email funding@ymcansw.org.au.
This is so great!!