I was probably the only black girl, African American, in my class.

Growing up on Long Island, Zerell Johnson-Welch didn’t feel like gymnastics welcomed her, but she loved the sport and kept with it. Now, as a coach, she wants to change that for incoming gymnasts.Check out the full story:

Read the full transcript below.

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TRANSCRIPT
August 5, 2016

ZERELL JOHNSON-WELCH: I grew up in Long Island, NY. I was probably the only black girl, African American, in my class. My family was probably the only family in the neighborhood. So, it was very daunting at times, stressful, frustrating, isolating, and hurtful at times.

You know, I think it was trying to fit in and realizing that I couldn’t walk into a room or classroom and see actually where I did fit in.

I had coaches who would say certain not so polite things. I do remember them making a comment about my rump, my bump, my butt and I believe I had a little bit more well-endowed maybe then another girl of another nationality and I didn’t really become self conscious of that until he brought it to my attention. And it was done in a joking way but it wasn’t a joking way to me at all. Not at all.

I think there were definitely things that the sport expected and I did not necessarily fit the particular mode of what the sport required or expected.

I felt that I still had some value that I could bring to do the sport because if i felt a certain way in a sport that didn’t feel as welcoming. I knew I could make other kids feel more welcome by staying in the sport.

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