Trying a new sport isn't easy, especially when everyone else seems years ahead. For Gabi Rudolph (‘26), stepping into a new sport wasn't learning the game, it was about starting over. Joining a team for only one year can be intimidating, as many players have spent seasons building their skills and understanding the sport. Gabi chose to quit swimming and try field hockey, tennis, and basketball.
“For three years I was a swimmer, and over time, I just kind of lost the love for that sport. I think I just spent too much time doing it, and it just didn't become fun for me anymore. And I was just really unhappy,” Rudolph said.
Losing the love for a sport that someone once cared about isn't easy. Many athletes chose to stick it out for one more season, going through the hard practices without much thought and just thinking, ‘When is this going to be over?’ But for Rudolph, the decision was not that simple. After three years of playing four sports—water polo, tennis, swimming, and diving—she wanted a huge new beginning. And trying basketball.
“Basketball, I would do it all over again simply because of the people and the coaches and the surrounding and environment that I had and created for myself, ” Rudolph said.
Finding new beginnings can be difficult. But for Rudoplh, it felt like finding a new family through a sport, where she can truly be herself. The bond she built with the people around her grew stronger and stronger, slowly lighting up her life. She realized she made the better choice.
“I didn't really know what being on a team had felt like when I was swimming, but as soon as I started playing field hockey or especially basketball, it was like I finally understood,” Rudolph said.
Playing a team sport presents challenges that many athletes in individual sports never experience, as success depends not only on personal performance, but also on trust and communication to make the team work. Through basketball and field hockey, Gabi began to understand the importance of being part of a team, even though practices could be more difficult because everyone had to work together.
“I showed up for Hell week for basketball. I puked after the mile that I ran the second day, and then I still continued to practice. And I feel like that taught me a lot about myself, from a leadership standpoint,” Rudolph said.
Despite the difficult moments, Gabi still chose to step forward and prove that she wanted to keep going. That kind of moment takes a huge deal of courage. While many people might give up under all of that pressure, Gabi saw it as a challenge. She wanted to try something new and push herself.
“I really saw her happy after she quit swimming. It was like a whole different person .” Brooklyn Angel 26’ said.
Gabi's journey shows how difficult change can be, but also how rewarding it can be. By stepping away from a sport she no longer loved, she discovered a stronger sense of belonging and found her purpose through being part of a team. Her experience proves that taking risks and trying something new can lead to unexpected opportunities.
“if you're not happy doing something and you're not loving how either you're performing or just a sport in general, or maybe even the team, quit. Like, I could not recommend it enough go out and try something new” Rudolph 26 said.
