I did competitive gymnastics until I was in high school and only made it to State, so I wouldn't have gone anywhere had I pursued it.
It is far more competitive in the US for this area I think. A large population makes a difference. My small town (about 15K people at the time) had a couple of Australian players at the same time in it for hockey. For some reason, it did very well at producing talent for decades.
Of course, nowadays, being elite brings sports contracts unlike when I was competing
It is insane now and speaks to the massive increase in the consumer mentality. The greatest of all time in the past are paupers in comparison to the average of the present.
She did it and when she retired from that, she took an office job. All that training.
I can't imagine what it is like to do something like this. It must be both freeing and oppressive at the same time.