For many people, gymnastics is still seen as a sport reserved for a certain body type. But plus-size gymnast Angela Salvatore is challenging those perceptions, breaking stereotypes in gymnastics and proving the sport can be for every body.
The accomplished athlete has built a loyal following by sharing her gymnastics journey online, inspiring women to return to the sport and encouraging others not to let body shaming or outdated assumptions stand in the way of pursuing what they love.
Speaking exclusively to The Women’s Journal, Angela opened up about breaking stereotypes, dealing with body shaming online and why she refuses to let other people’s opinions define her. She hopes her story will inspire more women to realise that their body type shouldn’t be a barrier to taking part in sport.
From becoming a national taekwondo champion and a four-time Junior Olympian to winning silver on vault at the 2025 AAU Nationals, Angela’s sporting achievements demonstrate that athletic ability cannot be measured by body type. Yet despite her success, Angela says some of her biggest challenges have come not in the gym, but from the misconceptions surrounding plus-size athletes and the anonymous cyberbullies who focus on her appearance rather than her achievements.
Angela’s journey into gymnastics began with a moment that many young athletes can relate to. “I wanted to get into gymnastics because a friend of mine in elementary school did a back handspring in gym class one day,” she recalled. “I thought it looked cool and would be fun to learn.”
Since then, Angela has competed in more than 40 gymnastics competitions while also building an impressive sporting career beyond the gym. She is a national taekwondo champion, a fourth-degree black belt, a four-time Junior Olympian and a competitive dancer – an impressive sporting resume that challenges assumptions about what an athlete should look like.
Her proudest gymnastics achievement came in 2025 when she won silver on vault at the AAU Nationals. “I love vault and had been working hard to clean up my form,” she said.
Yet while medals are important, Angela says her motivation has changed over the years. “Today, my motivation comes from the friends I’ve made across the country and the young girls who follow me online. It is so exciting to talk with them and hopefully keep them interested in gymnastics as they grow older.”
How Angela Salvatore Is Breaking Gymnastics Stereotypes
Gymnastics has traditionally been associated with a very specific body type, but Angela says she never questioned where she belonged while growing up. “Honestly, I only became aware of it as an adult once my videos became popular,” she explained. “Growing up, I never viewed myself as different from anyone else on my team or the people I was competing against.”
It was only after her gymnastics videos reached larger audiences online that she realised many people were surprised to see a plus-size woman performing skills they believed were reserved for smaller athletes. Rather than discouraging her, those reactions strengthened her determination to challenge outdated ideas about who belongs in gymnastics.
Angela says one of the most rewarding aspects of sharing her journey has been hearing from people whose perceptions have changed. “Many people have told me they want to get back into the sport or that they didn’t realise anyone could do gymnastics regardless of their size,” she said. “It’s rewarding to know I’m making a positive impact.”
For Angela, those messages are proof that greater representation can encourage people to rediscover a sport they once thought wasn’t for them.
The Biggest Myths About Plus-Size Athletes
Despite growing awareness around body diversity in sport, Angela believes harmful misconceptions still persist. “People often assume that if an athlete is plus-size, they must have a poor diet, can’t perform the sport well, or simply shouldn’t be participating at all,” she said.
She is determined to challenge those assumptions every time she steps onto the competition floor. “That’s completely untrue. Anyone can do anything they put their mind to.”
Angela believes one of the biggest misconceptions society still holds is that body size automatically determines a person’s health or fitness.
“The biggest myth is that being plus-size automatically means you are lazy or unfit,” she said. “Health and strength look different on every person because of genetics and individuality.”
For Angela, judging someone’s health purely by their appearance ignores the fact that every person’s body is different. She hopes more people begin separating body size from assumptions about fitness and athletic ability.
Angela Salvatore on Body Shaming and Online Trolls
Although Angela has inspired thousands of people online, increased visibility has also brought criticism.
Asked whether she had ever felt pressure – from herself or others – to change her body in order to succeed in gymnastics, Angela said she never felt that expectation within the sport itself.
“The only people who seem to care about the way my body looks are anonymous cyberbullies online.”
Rather than feeling judged by coaches or teammates, Angela says the criticism has almost exclusively come from anonymous strangers on social media.
Instead of allowing negativity to define her, Angela chooses to focus on what she can control. “I remind myself that their opinions have no power over me. I can’t control what strangers say, but I can control how I react to them. In the end, they don’t matter.”
That mindset has helped her continue competing with confidence. “I have a clear understanding of my own capabilities and expectations,” she said. “I refuse to let a mean comment define my potential. I focus on what I know I am capable of achieving.”
Why Representation in Sport Matters
Angela believes representation is one of the most powerful ways to encourage participation. “Everyone is unique, and there shouldn’t be a single mould for athletes,” she said. “If someone is interested in a sport, there is no reason they shouldn’t be able to pursue it.”
Angela has already witnessed the impact that representation can have through the messages she receives online. “Many people have told me they want to get back into the sport or that they didn’t realise anyone could do gymnastics regardless of their size,” she said. “It’s rewarding to know I’m making a positive impact.”
People regularly tell her that her videos have inspired them to return to gymnastics after years away from the sport or given them the confidence to try it for the first time.
She also believes attitudes towards body diversity are improving. “There is much more inclusion now for athletes of all ages, sizes and skill levels. Gyms and teams are generally more positive and accepting of everyone.”
While encouraged by that progress, Angela says there is still more work to do.
How Gymnastics Can Become More Inclusive
One issue Angela feels particularly passionate about is increasing opportunities for adult gymnasts.
“I wish there were more opportunities for adults to compete,” she said. “While we have the AAU and NAIGC in the USA, there are still many regions without adult gyms or teams. I would love to see those gaps filled.”
She also hopes sporting organisations recognise that adults deserve the same opportunities to participate as younger athletes.
“Adult athletes love their sports just as much as children do,” she said. “While I understand youth programmes are a priority, adults shouldn’t be an afterthought. We need more opportunities to participate.”
How Gymnastics Has Shaped Angela’s Confidence
For Angela, gymnastics has become about far more than competition. “Being able to compete and showcase my hard work has significantly boosted my confidence, as has seeing people enjoy and support what I do.”
That confidence has helped her ignore stereotypes and focus instead on her own goals. Rather than trying to fit other people’s expectations, Angela measures success by her own progress and achievements. That self-belief has become one of the biggest lessons sport has taught her.
“I have a clear understanding of my own capabilities and expectations,” she said. “I refuse to let a mean comment define my potential. I focus on what I know I am capable of achieving.”
Angela Salvatore’s Advice for Women Who Want to Try Gymnastics
Angela hopes women and girls who feel intimidated by sport won’t allow concerns about body image to stop them trying something new.
“If you want to try something, that is the only thing that matters,” she said. “Your body type shouldn’t be a barrier as long as the activity makes you happy.”
Angela believes the most important step is simply getting started rather than worrying about being perfect. For anyone nervous about joining a gym, class or sports club alone, her advice is to “Try to find a friend or a group to join classes with so you feel more comfortable.”
“If you’re going alone, just remember that you are there to try something new. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time – just have fun and don’t worry about others.”
She hopes more women will realise that participating in sport isn’t about perfection – it’s about enjoying the experience and giving themselves the opportunity to grow.
Angela Salvatore’s Message to Sporting Organisations, Coaches and Women
Angela hopes her story encourages more women to put aside fears about judgement and embrace opportunities they may once have thought weren’t meant for them.
“I want women to take advantage of every opportunity so they don’t live with the regret of missing out on something life-changing because of a fear of judgment,” she said.
It’s a message that reflects the philosophy behind her sporting career – from gymnastics and taekwondo to inspiring thousands of people online.
And for anyone questioning whether they have the ‘right’ body type to try gymnastics or another sport, Angela’s message couldn’t be clearer: “Anyone can do anything they put their mind to.”
