About Jess:

I grew up in a beautiful suburb of New Jersey just 20 miles outside of NYC. From what my parents tell me, I started running before I learned to walk and they had to teach me to slow down (it seems not much has changed lol). I spent more time upside down than right side up and climbed everything. I had my first of many broken bones at three when I was trying to keep up with my eight-year-old brother. I guess the 5 years and size he had on me were an advantage in our “who can jump from the higher step” game. My constant need to move and fearless attitude landed me in competitive gymnastics at an early age.

By age 9 I was training 20 hours a week and figuring out how to juggle schoolwork, a social life, chores, and Hebrew school. During my career I traveled with my team, competed nationally, and even had the opportunity to live and train in France when I was 12. My life was gymnastics, clothing of choice was a leotard, favorite accessory, duh chalk, best friends were my teammates, second parents were my coaches, and ultimately my happy place was the gym.

Broken bones, minor tears, and strains of all sorts were common in gymnastics. However, my worst injury took place during a competition at the end of high school. I landed my bar dismount with locked out knees and a shock electrified through my entire body, resulting in two fractured vertebrae. My training came to an abrupt halt, but gymnastics was still my life, I couldn’t stomach "retiring" like I was told I should; I had my mind set on a full recovery. During my recovery, it made sense to increase my coaching hours since I would be decreasing my training hours. This simple solution allowed me to still be in the gym every night, see my teammates, focus on my recovery, and teach other girls about the sport I loved so dearly.

It was during coaching (and picking up a job at a local health club) that I realized what I loved was teaching. Through teaching I could pass along my knowledge, experiences, challenges, and solutions. Seeing someone make a small shift, find success after failed attempts, and check a goal of their list...well, that's my WHY!

After months of recovery and rehab I was able to come back for my last few competitions. Although I healed and returned to competing, that injury changed the trajectory of my future as an athlete. It was also the biggest catalyst in being completely overtaken by my eating disorder.

I spent nearly 10 years fighting and struggling; honestly, just hating myself. I am extremely open about my past, but right now is not the time or the place. You can read all about my secret life in this blog (written May 2016).

It took years for me to be able to share my story, but it only took one person thanking me and opening up to me about her struggles for me to realize sharing my story and helping others is why I went through everything I did.

Connect with her at www.jessglazer.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.glazer/

Another England collapse and the Adil Rashid debate