When she was in the mix, she was the kind of gymnast who never backed down from a challenge. Whether it was nailing a complex routine or stepping up as a leader, she was known for putting in the work until the job was done. During her standout collegiate career at the University of Michigan, she captained the team in 2023, led them to a National Gymnastics Championship title in 2021, and helped secure four Big Ten Regular Season crowns (2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023). She made an immediate impact as a freshman, winning the NCAA individual balance beam title, and closed her college chapter with a stunning 9.9250 in her final routine. The Wolverines’ gymnastics veteran is now on the other side of the mat. But she continues to be involved in an unexpected way. Wonder how?

Though her competitive days are behind her, Natalie Wojcik continues contributing to the sport she loves. No, Natalie Wojcik hasn’t made a comeback as a gymnast—but she’s stepping into a new role that’s equally powerful. Just days ago, on April 28, she posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), unveiling her next big move: helping shape the future of young gymnasts at the newly opened Haverford YMCA Gymnastics Center. As a coach in this state-of-the-art facility, Wojcik is now bringing her elite experience to the grassroots level.

“In our new gymnastics center, we’re going to have a foam pit,” she says in the clip, elaborating on all the wonderful, brand-new amenities budding gymnasts will have access to. It’s truly an incredible resource in training new skills and more difficult skills from a safety perspective, but also in terms of building the athlete’s confidence up, and it’s just fun. It kind of feels like jumping into a pool off a diving board, but with a bunch of flips.” 

Notably, the Haverford YMCA Gymnastics Center offers classes for a wide range of age groups and skill levels, from beginner to advanced. And with that diversity in mind, the facility is equipped with everything needed for both growth and safety. Natalie is especially proud of the center’s full-size floor and flexible equipment setup that allows for training dismounts into the foam pit.

“The girls are going to be able to train on all of the equipment and land in a really soft and forgiving landing,” Natalie adds. In the end, when it came to speaking about the trainee kids in the facility, Natalie had the best words. But Wojcik’s role extends far beyond teaching technique. For her, coaching is about creating a culture—one built on support, encouragement, and joy. The star gymnast, who had consistently been involved in mental health initiatives as a student, having been introduced to psychology in high school, is the right kind of coach to have!

“They are so hard-working and really supportive and encouraging of each other,” the Douglassville native says of the young gymnasts under her wing. “I feel like I know what it takes to compete at the highest level but I also know the toll that that can take. It should always be something that’s fun and something that they enjoy doing.” True to her advocacy in college, Wojcik continues to prioritize mental well-being as a core part of athletic development. She has long been vocal about the pressures athletes face—especially young women in the spotlight—and she’s committed to fostering an environment where kids can thrive without fear or burnout. Natalie Wojcik may have traded in the leotard for a coach’s whistle, but her mission remains the same: to elevate gymnastics with compassion, strength, and a deep understanding of what it truly means to succeed. But amid all her successes, on and off the mat, her journey to gymnastics glory has often been interspersed by bitter days

The Michigan Wolverines gymnastics veteran pointed out the dark part 

In 2023, as Natalie Wojcik prepared to step away from collegiate gymnastics, she noticed a troubling trend emerging on social media. While her routines continued to captivate fans with their grace and precision, much of the online conversation had veered away from her athletic performance. Instead, a significant number of netizens were fixated on her leotard—and by extension, her body. “Along with that visibility, unfortunately, came a lot of negative comments relating to kind of my body and my leotard,” Wojcik told Olympics.com. “And so most of them kind of centred around the idea that my leotard wasn’t fitting me properly or that they just aren’t made the same way that they used to, or gymnasts aren’t having the same bodies that they used to.”

Rather than staying silent, Wojcik chose to speak up—not just for herself, but for all female athletes facing similar scrutiny. “I truly just wanted to bring awareness to the content of what they were saying,” she explained. “I just wanted to highlight the fact that visibility of women’s gymnastics – and of women’s sports in general – shouldn’t have to come along with the objectifying of women’s bodies or the sexualisation of women in sports.” Her message was clear: admiration for athletic talent should never be clouded by outdated standards or inappropriate commentary. And as women’s sports continue to rise in prominence, so too must the respect and integrity with which they’re discussed.