As of this month, Alina has logged 147 flight hours and is preparing for her instrument rating exam. The girl who once tumbled across the world’s biggest stages is now learning to navigate by the stars.
The physical transition was also jarring. Gymnasts are trained to be compact, grounded, and explosive. Pilots need endurance, situational awareness, and a calm physiological response to g-forces and altitude changes. Her first few flights in a Cessna 172 left her battling motion sickness—a humbling experience for a woman who once spun at dizzying speeds without flinching. alina angel chasing new dream
The final score of Alina Angel’s gymnastics career is written in history books. But the flight plan for her new dream is still being written, one altitude gain at a time. And if her past is any indication, she will stick the landing—or in this case, the touchdown. As of this month, Alina has logged 147
“We put so much pressure on young athletes to define themselves by their sport,” she writes in her latest post. “But a dream is not a destination. It’s a direction. You can change direction. You can climb higher. You just have to be brave enough to let go of the last bar and reach for the next one.” Gymnasts are trained to be compact, grounded, and explosive
The journey has not been easy. The first hurdle was financial. While a celebrated athlete in her home country, Alina was not a global superstar. Prize money and sponsorship dried up quickly after retirement. To fund her flight school, which costs over €60,000 for full training, she sold her competition leotards, launched a small online business selling handmade gymnastics grips, and took a night job as a hotel receptionist.
The world expected her to fade into the quiet life of a coach or a commentator. Instead, Alina Angel is chasing a new dream—one that trades the spring floor for the cockpit.
As of this month, Alina has logged 147 flight hours and is preparing for her instrument rating exam. The girl who once tumbled across the world’s biggest stages is now learning to navigate by the stars.
The physical transition was also jarring. Gymnasts are trained to be compact, grounded, and explosive. Pilots need endurance, situational awareness, and a calm physiological response to g-forces and altitude changes. Her first few flights in a Cessna 172 left her battling motion sickness—a humbling experience for a woman who once spun at dizzying speeds without flinching.
The final score of Alina Angel’s gymnastics career is written in history books. But the flight plan for her new dream is still being written, one altitude gain at a time. And if her past is any indication, she will stick the landing—or in this case, the touchdown.
“We put so much pressure on young athletes to define themselves by their sport,” she writes in her latest post. “But a dream is not a destination. It’s a direction. You can change direction. You can climb higher. You just have to be brave enough to let go of the last bar and reach for the next one.”
The journey has not been easy. The first hurdle was financial. While a celebrated athlete in her home country, Alina was not a global superstar. Prize money and sponsorship dried up quickly after retirement. To fund her flight school, which costs over €60,000 for full training, she sold her competition leotards, launched a small online business selling handmade gymnastics grips, and took a night job as a hotel receptionist.
The world expected her to fade into the quiet life of a coach or a commentator. Instead, Alina Angel is chasing a new dream—one that trades the spring floor for the cockpit.