#013 From a Broken Neck to an Unstoppable Mindset: Gymnast Ben Hjort's Insights on Fear, Recruiting, and GymAct

Every gymnast knows the physical toll of our sport, but it’s the mental battles that often dictate how far we go. I recently had the chance to sit down with former Temple University all-arounder Ben Hjort to unpack his journey. From surviving a terrifying, career-threatening injury to finding a new love for the sport, Ben’s insights offer a masterclass in mental preparation, navigating the recruiting process, and exploring the rapidly expanding world of GymAct.

Whether you’re a Level 10 pushing for the college ranks or an athlete battling a stubborn mental block, Ben’s story is exactly what you need to hear.

1. Turning Fear Into Focus: Overcoming the Mental Blocks

Midway through his college career, Ben suffered a devastating injury, peeling off the rings during a double back, landing on his neck, and fracturing his C2 spinous process. It sidelined him for nearly a year. When he returned, limitations forced him to transition from an all-arounder to a specialist on pommel horse, parallel bars, and high bar.

Remarkably, the injury shifted his perspective on fear, especially on high bar, an event that had terrified him since childhood after pulling in on a flyaway and bashing his shins.

"Fear is the biggest thing that holds people back," Ben shared. "I got really comfortable with the bar and using it with me rather than fighting it. If you fight the bar and you're terrified when you hop up on that event, all you're going to think about is the worst."

Ben’s Toolkit for Breaking Mental Blocks:

• Lean into the Discomfort: Instead of avoiding pommel horse and high bar (his historic weaknesses), Ben chose to "full-on attack" them.

• Stay Present: When executing high-level skills like jams and Tak halves, stop overthinking. Treat it as a calculated leap of faith, trust your training, and build from the first attempt.

• Remember Your 'Why': Gymnastics isn't your livelihood or a paycheck. Smile, look back to why you loved it as a kid, and let that lightness carry you through.

  
  

2. The Art of "Mental Gymnastics": Visualization Techniques

One of the most profound shifting points for Ben at Temple was the introduction of structured visualization by his head coach, Jesse Kitzen-Abelson.

The day before a meet, the team would lie down in a dim gym. The coaching staff would play background audio of real competition noise (screaming, cheering, and chaotic energy of a packed arena). Under these conditions, the athletes were guided to mentally walk through every single detail: from how they approached the event and chalked up, to the exact execution of their routines.

Ben took this practice home, visualizing in his room and even in the shower. He points out a crucial trap many gymnasts fall into: visualizing the mistake.

"I would always try to not get ahead of myself, because that’s when I would visualize and mess up something in my routine, and I would then force myself to start all over again from the top. I told myself: you can’t do that in real life. You gotta keep going."

When the pre-meet nerves inevitably crept in, Ben relied on a piece of advice passed down from his mom: Right before you salute, it’s already too late to change anything. You’ve done the routine a million times in practice; there's no reason to create extra stress about an outcome you’ve already prepared for.

3. Rewriting the College Recruiting Playbook

The traditional path of NCAA recruiting can feel incredibly exclusive, but Ben’s journey proves that the door is never fully closed. Late into his senior year of high school, Ben assumed his competitive career was over, doubting if he was good enough for college ball.

A prompt from his club coach and a push from his mom led him to send an email to the Temple coaching staff. He heard back the next day. Today, having spent time on the other side of the table assisting with recruitment evaluations, Ben highlights what actually matters now:

Modern Recruiting Tips for Gymnasts:

• Build a Digital Footprint: Create dedicated Instagram and YouTube accounts to archive your sets. When college coaches scout major meets like Nationals, West Point, or Windy City, they use these social profiles to cross-reference your consistency and match a name to a face.

• Character Over Score: Coaches look far beyond the start value. They ask: What do you add to the team as a human being? Are you a supportive teammate, or are you a hothead?

• Take the Initiative: Don't wait for a coach to knock on your door. Fill out the recruiting forms, send the emails, and open the communication lines yourself.

  
  

4. Why You Should Closely Consider GymAct

If you aren't picked up by a traditional D1 program, your gymnastics career is far from over. Ben is a massive advocate for GymAct, a rapidly evolving collegiate league originally born out of cut NCAA programs (like Temple, ASU, Minnesota, Iowa, and Washington).

Today, GymAct has expanded far beyond just a safety net for discontinued programs. It now features "Alliance" or "Unity" teams (like the New York Alliance team) which allows athletes from various local universities, trade schools, or full-time jobs to co-op, train, and compete at the collegiate level.

While Ben admits that alliance-style teams can dilute the daily "team environment" since athletes often only see each other at competitions, the sheer flexibility it offers to young adults is unmatched. You can be an electrician apprentice, a night-school student, or work a retail job, and still wear a collegiate jersey.

Final Thoughts: The 3-Month Rule

After wrapping up his senior year, Ben is currently prioritizing his physical longevity by taking a intentional 3-month break from the sport to heal old shoulder and back injuries, a strategy inspired by Penn State alum Matt Cormier to avoid burnout. But his love for the sport hasn't faded. He plans to return to his home gym, train on his own terms, and potentially join another GymAct roster down the road.

The biggest takeaway from Ben's story? Never talk down to yourself. If you wouldn't say it to a teammate, don't say it to the person in the mirror. Treat yourself with respect, look into alternative leagues like GymAct, and keep chasing the sport you love.

Have you ever used visualization to conquer a tough skill or mental block? Are you looking into GymAct programs? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!