Camilla Royal '25 Recruiting Profile

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from my essay, it’s this: I am committed to achieving my best and never settling for "good enough." For me, reaching a goal is just the beginning. It means it’s time to set a higher one.

I started gymnastics at the age of four, and from the very beginning, I fell in love with the sport. I loved the soreness after practice, cheering on my teammates at meets, and the satisfaction of knowing I’d given everything in a workout. I cherished moments like climbing to the top of the rope for the first time—no legs—and the thrill of mastering new skills. Gymnastics taught me mental toughness, resilience, and the strength to keep pushing, which laid the foundation for my journey in track.

During quarantine, I saw an opportunity to become my best self. I dove into running with a focus on building stamina that would help me improve my gymnastics routines. But what started as a way to complement my gymnastics training quickly became a passion. I’d wake up at 5 a.m., read until 6, do math practice until 6:30, complete a Chloe Ting challenge with my mom, and by 8:00, I’d be outside running. Afterward, I’d condition for 30 minutes, have a Zoom meeting with my gymnastics coaches, and in the evening, stretch and do oversplits while watching The Flash with my family.

Running became more than just a tool to improve my gymnastics—it became my "me time" and a form of meditation. I started paying close attention to my cadence, mile splits, and total mileage, diving deep into the sport and learning everything I could about myself as an athlete.

In my freshman year, I decided to try out for the track team, driven by the love for running I had discovered during quarantine. The night before my race, I’d make energy balls and sun butter brownies for my teammates, while analyzing 400m race strategies and watching slow-motion form videos on YouTube. During the outdoor season, my 400m time dropped by six seconds—an accomplishment I was thrilled with. I listened closely to the advice of my more experienced teammates, especially when it came to improving my first leg of the 400m. I cheered for my teammates during their races, giving them big hugs afterward, just as I had in gymnastics.

What started as a way to "give track a try" became a full-blown love affair with the sport. Over the past year, I’ve dedicated myself to improving—researching proper nutrition, studying racing strategies, focusing on 400m workouts, and refining my running form. I even invested in a pair of spikes to take my training to the next level. I’m ready to show what I’ve got. So, tag along—I’m just getting started!

Thank you,
Camilla Royal