West Allis native Chellsie Memmel, the 2005 world all-around gymnastics champion, has been working out and posting gymnastics videos on her social media profiles. Is the Wisconsinite planning an Olympic comeback?
“That’s a tall order and a big goal to set,” Memmel told WTMJ’s John Mercure.
“It would be amazing to go for another Olympics. I know how hard it is to make that team, though. I’m really just going to see where this journey takes me.”
The 2020 Olympics have been delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Memmel admits the postponement works to her advantage.
“If everything would have gone accordingly this year, there would have been zero chance,” Memmel said.
“But, you know, having it delayed and just having a ton of time in an empty gym, I don’t know, it just kind of ignited a new spark in me.”
“It’s been amazing to see what my body is still capable of doing. I feel as strong as I ever have, which is amazing,” Memmel said.
Fellow Wisconsinite and five-time Olympic speed-skating champion Bonnie Blair gave Memmel some words of encouragement on one of her recent YouTube videos.
“You know, I think a lot of it is just your body and what your body can handle and what you can do.” Blair said in the video.
Memmel, a mother of two, says regardless of what happens with the 2021 Olympics, she’s just happy to be back doing what she loves.
“Being back in the gym is something that’s just for me and it makes me happy doing it,” Memmel said.
“Overall, I think it just makes me a better person and mom so it all kind of feeds off each other.”
Memmel became the third-ever American woman to win the world all-around title in 2005. She was also a member of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team, which took home the silver medal.