Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Tutnick.
Emily, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Falling into the sport of baton twirling was a total accident; I was never meant to throw metal sticks for fun. I was originally a gymnast and dancer and desperately wanted to do cheerleading. I begged my mom to let me do cheerleading, and she responded with “no”! So, I found baton twirling at a local parade, and the rest is history. Twirling is electric; I feel alive when I twirl. I began progressing at an extremely fast pace and soon began competing at the highest level. I struggled to perform well, as I didn’t have the experience or notability to place well; however, with hard work and dedication, success came. After nearly 13 years, I finally accomplished my goal of being selected for team USA to compete at our world championships in Liverpool, England in August 2023. This is an incredible honor, and it encompasses my long and tiring journey to get to where I am. I always wants to remind young athletes that it isn’t where you start but how you finish!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I struggled heavily with baton twirling. I was awkward and lanky as a child with skeletal issues. It made physical activity painful, but I loved baton twirling so much I pushed through the pain. I grew stronger, which helped me manage my pain. I was also bullied as a kid; baton twirling was my outlet, my safe space. I used baton to help me through the tough parts of my life, however, it also created some obstacles. Twirling at USC was my dream, and it almost didn’t happen. I was rejected as a freshman, which crushed my spirit. I told myself, however, that this would only be a roadblock, not the end of the road. So, I proved them wrong, being accepted just one year later, and getting to fulfill my dream of twirling and attending USC! Lastly, my competition path has been quite bumpy. I have had 3 coaching changes, the last one being the healthiest. The changes allowed me to improve and become a better athlete, however, I still struggled to perform well. It took wanting to perform for myself, not others, to finally feel at peace. Since that point, I have had an upward trajectory that has gotten me to where I am today!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Baton twirling is incredibly niche. I try to promote baton twirling as a sport through social media as well as speaking with people. I describe baton as a blend of rhythmic gymnastics, dance, and softball. The three combined require agility, athleticism, and hand-eye coordination required to be successful. This gives strangers to this world a better idea of the amount of energy it takes to perform and compete at the level that I do.
I am most proud of my growth and maturity over the past 4 years in the sport. I couldn’t care less about the wins or titles won; I care about my impact on the next generation of twirlers. Those are the athletes that are going to continue to write the narrative of athletic excellence, so it is important to make my mark on them. The wins? No one will remember those. That understanding and growth took years of humility and experience to realize, and I am proud to have that perspective on the sport I know and love.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
This past summer, I read A Champion’s Mind by Dr. Jim Afremow. It explored the mindset of elite athletes, as well as concepts to implement into training and competing. This was insightful for me, and I was able to apply these concepts into my daily training to great success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilypaigetut/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@emilypaigetut
Image Credits
Ben Chua
