If you think gymnastics is reserved for the elite few, let us introduce you to a place proving how wrong that notion can be. At Chattooga Gymnastics in Marietta, Georgia, the regular rules of belonging do not apply. For decades, this club has welcomed athletes of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, showing that gymnastics can be a place of genuine community, creativity, and, we admit, delight for absolutely everyone.
A Living Example When Inclusion Means Everyone
Years ago, eight girls, each with a disability, formed the Chattooga Galaxy team. They did not just train together. They performed with their parents, traveled internationally, and were celebrated on the biggest stages, not just as “special” athletes but as whole gymnasts alongside everyone else. Mandy, one of those original Galaxy athletes, once told her coach, “I just wanted to be on a team with my friends.” She got her wish, and so did many others after her.
Gym owner and coach Cindy Bickman, a prominent advocate in the inclusive sports movement, shares, “My team is all ages, all abilities, all genders. They stay. So many of my athletes have been training for twenty-five or thirty years” (quoted in FIG News). Her words are not just lip service. International teams now travel to Germany’s world-renowned Turnfest just to watch what inclusion can look like at its best.
Beyond Buzzwords How Inclusion Feels, Not Just Looks
What does real inclusion look like? It is not about putting a few disabled athletes in the spotlight once a year. At Chattooga, inclusion is woven into daily practice.
- Classes mix athletes with and without disabilities intentionally, not as an “add on”
- Adaptive equipment and creative coaching approaches ensure everyone can participate safely and confidently
- Parents and even grandparents sometimes join in, making performances a true family affair
- Adult gymnasts frequently tell Bickman they have finally found a space where they simply belong
The benefits run both ways. According to Cindy Bickman, “You may help those students learn gymnastics, but they will make you a better coach and a better person just by having them in your life” (from USA Gymnastics).
Changing the Whole System
Research backs what Chattooga and similar clubs have shown for years. When you prioritize flexible, inclusive practices, everyone thrives. Inclusion helps neurotypical teammates become more empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable. Kids and adults learn to value differences, often carrying that lesson into the wider world.
These inclusive values “require patience, imagination, and a willingness to rethink what success in sports can look like,” Bickman told CanvasRebel Magazine. They are not always easy to come by, but they are needed more than ever.
Why This Matters for Our Community
For many autistic and neurodivergent people, stories of exclusion from sports programs are all too common. But as more clubs adopt models like Chattooga’s, we see a shift, from isolated “special needs” classes to dynamic, united communities of movement.
There is a world of difference between making room for someone and helping them shine. It is time more gyms, and maybe even more of us, picked up on that lesson.
Citations
- Bickman, C. (2018, August 29). Meet Cindy Bickman of Chattooga School of Gymnastics & Dance in Marietta. VoyageATL. https://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-cindy-bickman-chattooga-school-gymnastics-dance-marietta/
- Federation Internationale de Gymnastique. (n.d.). Making Gymnastics truly inclusive. FIG News. https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=3399985
- Federation Internationale de Gymnastique. (2022, January 1). A place where all can shine. FIG News. https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?idNews=2546
- Johnson, L. (2018, March 19). Jumping for joy. Kiwanis Magazine. https://kiwanismagazine.org/2018/03/19/jumping-for-joy/
- Sophia’s Mission. (2025, June 17). Gymnastics Team A World Leader in Inclusion. https://sophiasmissionus.org/gymnastics-team-a-world-leader-in-inclusion/
- MapQuest. (n.d.). Chattooga School of Gymnastics and Dance – Marietta. https://www.mapquest.com/us/georgia/chattooga-school-of-gymnastics-and-dance-3692368
- 11Alive. (2024, April 7). Georgia gymnast receives award from USA Gymnastics. https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/local-sports/sports-awards/georgia-gymnast-receives-award-usa-gymnastics/85-5b10d9e2-4d7e-4500-8e7d-97597031094a
- USA Gymnastics. (2024, June 13). Lani De Mello named 2024 Robert Miller Spirit of the Flame Award recipient. https://usagym.org/lani-de-mello-named-2024-robert-miller-spirit-of-the-flame-award-recipient/
- Chattooga Gymnastics. (n.d.). [Instagram account]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/chattoogagymnastics/
- Chattooga School of Gymnastics & Dance. (n.d.). Official website. https://www.chattoogagym.com
