After five years away from competitive gymnastics, Olympian Courtney McGregor wasn’t sure whether a return to elite sport would fit alongside medical school, hospital placements, and life beyond the gym.

But one drafted email changed everything.

“What originally sparked my interest in returning to gym was the idea of competing at a Commonwealth Games in Australia,” Courtney says. “I drafted an email to Impact Gymsport Academy in Tauranga in mid-2025, knowing I’d have to compete at Nationals to be considered. I sat on it for a few days because I knew once I sent it, I’d be all in.”

Since then, Courtney has returned to the national and international stage, balancing the demands of medicine with evening training sessions, weekend preparation, and the realities of elite sport as an adult athlete.

Most days begin early at the hospital before she heads straight to the gym after work, training late into the evening.

“I have to prep all of my meals and do all of my life admin on the weekend just to survive the week,” she laughs. “Med school is my number one priority, so sometimes I have to sacrifice sleep or training for study.”

But despite the demanding schedule, Courtney says her relationship with gymnastics looks very different this time around.

“When I was younger, I felt a lot more pressure to perform well. Now I’m doing gymnastics for myself. I’m not so attached to the outcome anymore. I’m just enjoying the process of training, travelling, and representing New Zealand.”

That shift in perspective is something she hopes younger athletes understand too, particularly those navigating breaks from the sport or wondering what comes next beyond gymnastics.

“Don’t listen to anyone that tells you you can’t take a break,” she says. “I took five years off gymnastics and came back stronger than ever. There’s so much more to life than gymnastics, and taking a break can give you perspective.”

That perspective was evident last year when Courtney returned to the Nationals stage for the first time in a decade, going on to win the national title.

“I had a great time at Nationals in 2025,” she says. “It was crazy to be back after living in the States and being away from competition for so long. What I remember most isn’t necessarily the competition itself, but the fun memories with teammates and the people around me.”

For Courtney, that sense of connection is part of what makes competing in Aotearoa special.

“It’s so fun having friends and whānau come watch me compete,” she says. “Most of our competitions overseas are so far away, so it’s really cool for people to experience gymnastics in real life.”

And for athletes preparing to step onto the Nationals floor for the first time this year, her advice is simple:

“Just take it all in and enjoy the experience.”