Leap of faith: Gymnast Emma Slevin hoping collegiate cauldron can bounce her onto LA

Back from the intensity of collegiate competition in Minnesota, the Irish gymnast's focus shifts quickly to this weekend's National Championships in Abbotstown, which act as a qualifier for the European Championships in August

DUSTING UP: Emma Slevin at the National Gymnastics Training Centre: The National Series event takes place this weekend at the Sport Ireland Campus. Pic: Nick Elliott, Inpho

As she proved a decade ago, Emma Slevin has always been prepared to make the difficult call if it meant moving forward.

When she was 13, the young Galwegian gymnast went all in on the sport, a decision made all the more difficult by the fact that her GAA-loving parents, Liam and Deirdre, wanted her to continue playing football and camogie.

That instinct has served her well. Close to a year on from rolling the dice on a move to the United States, Slevin's embrace of the weekly demands of NCAA gymnastics has brought her to a new level.

Based at the University of Minnesota, Slevin has emerged from her first season with both individual and collective success to show for it.

“It’s been a great year,” she reflected. “I feel like I’ve been competing a lot since January. It’s busy, but it’s great for me.

“I think it’s really helped build my confidence. Competing every week is something I never got to experience before, but it’s something I really built on week after week. You could see improvements every single week.” 

Those improvements were reflected in Minnesota’s season as a whole. Known as the Golden Gophers, they entered the campaign ranked 13th in the country but forced their way into the NCAA's grand finale, otherwise known as 'Four on the Floor' finals. No team seeded outside the top 10 had ever achieved that before.

“It was an historic moment for NCAA gymnastics and for Minnesota,” Slevin said. “We talked about it all year, our goal was to go to nationals. The more we talked about it, the more it felt achievable.

“UCLA had beaten us twice, so one of our goals was to beat them. To do it, to get into the final four, that was a good time. We were so close the first two times we came up against them, so it felt like perfect timing.” 

Slevin played her part throughout, particularly on the uneven bars where she became a consistent contributor. In March, she claimed the Big Ten Conference title with a score of 9.95.

A former Youth Olympian in 2018 and all-round European and world finalist three years later, this latest shift in her mindset had allowed her to make a big breakthrough Stateside.

“I’ve always been good at bars, but one thing I struggled with before going there was confidence, and that’s what changed,” she explained. “I really started to perform at my best and that was the difference. The potential was always there, but that little change in confidence made a huge difference.

“If you make a mistake one week, you only have to wait five days to try it again. That was huge. You really saw the scores elevate throughout the season.” 

The move to Minnesota itself came together quickly. Having completed her undergraduate degree in Health and Performance Science at UCD, Slevin had initially intended to remain in Dublin to do a Masters while continuing to train at an elite level.

On reflection, however, such a juggling act felt onerous and she began contacting American colleges last June, aware that other European gymnasts had successfully made the transition.

“I was just hoping there were still spots,” she said. “I went over in July, visited a few places, and within a month I had committed. It all happened very quickly.” 

MIRROR MIRROR: Emma Slevin: 'It pushes you to be the best you can'

As was the case 10 years ago, Slevin was making a leap of faith, only this time she was immersing herself in a different sporting environment in the US.

“They really take the student-athlete lifestyle seriously,” she said. “I almost feel like a professional athlete. Everything is set up so you can focus on your sport and your studies.” 

Competition for places is intense, with up to 15 gymnasts vying for six spots. For Slevin, that internal pressure has been a positive.

“It’s difficult, but it’s also good. It pushes you to be the best you can,” she said. “Just being in that environment, with girls who are all at such a high level and want the best for you, and coaches who want you to improve day to day, that was really the key.” 

There were some challenges. The time difference made contact with home difficult, while a brief five-day return to Ireland at Christmas was followed by an immediate return to competition.

She was, once again, leaving her sports-mad home - twin sister, Kate, enjoyed a League and FAI Cup double with Athlone Town last season and is now concentrating on Galway’s ladies footballers, while her brother, Mark, is also active in hurling and football.

But since then the season has passed in a blur of weekly meets, culminating in the NCAA finals.

Now back home for the summer, her focus shifts quickly to the Gymnastics Ireland National Championships in Abbotstown this weekend, which act as a qualifier for the European Championships in August. The World Championships follow in October. Slevin believes she is now better equipped than ever to contend on the international stage.

“I’m definitely stronger than I was in previous years,” she said. “European finals and world finals are definitely achievable. It’s just about managing the load and staying healthy.” 

With another year of eligibility remaining in Minnesota, she is expected to return to the programme as she builds towards Olympic qualification, which takes place in 2027.

“My eyes are definitely set on LA,” she said. “But I’m taking it one year at a time. This summer is a big one for me. I just want to stay healthy, keep building, and see how far I can go.”