Gemma Noble: UK snowboarder

What Makes an Athlete Successful?

By Juen Li Choong

Open Ended

What do you think it takes to become a successful athlete?

Open Ended

Can talent alone make someone successful in sports? Or is there something more important?

American former tennis player

Serena Williams

Jamaican retired runner

Usain Bolt

American Swimmer

Michael Phelps

​Today, we’re going to read about Gemma Noble, a snowboarder from the UK. She faced some pretty tough challenges on her journey, but she kept pushing forward and ended up achieving a lot. Let’s see how she did it.

Poll

Which of these qualities do you think is MOST important for a successful athlete?

• Natural Talent

• Hard Work and Perseverance

• Supportive Coaches and Mentors

• Ability to Handle Pressure

A Glimpse into the World of Snowboarding

Snowboarding is an extreme sport where riders navigate down a snow-covered slope on a board. It’s a thrilling and challenging sport that demands balance, skill, and courage.

Open Ended

How do you think snowboarding differs from other sports like skiing, gymnastics, or running?

Multiple Choice

What do you think makes snowboarding such a challenging sport?

• The speed at which athletes compete.

• The balance and coordination required to perform tricks.

• The cold weather conditions in which it’s practiced.

Resilience and Overcoming Obstacles

By Juen Li Choong

In extreme sports, success isn’t just about talent; it’s also about resilience. Athletes like Gemma Noble face numerous challenges – from injuries to pressure – yet they continue to fight for their dreams.

Imagine training for months or years to compete in a big event, only to get injured just before. How do you think you would feel? Would you give up, or would you try to come back stronger?

Multiple Choice

What is resilience in sports?

• Ability to win competitions without practicing.

• Ability to keep going after facing setbacks like injuries or losses.

• Ability to perform under ideal conditions without any challenges.

What Can We Learn from Athletes?

By Juen Li Choong

In sports, athletes learn valuable life lessons such as goal-setting, hard work, and overcoming obstacles. These lessons can be applied to all areas of life – from school to personal goals.



What do you think we can learn from athletes about perseverance and not giving up when things get tough?

Do you have a goal that you're working towards or have achieved?

Poll

Which lesson do you think is most important to take away from athletes’ experiences?

• Never give up, even after failure.

• Success is all about natural talent.

• Competing is more important than the journey.

Gemma Noble – A Young Snowboarder’s Journey

By Juen Li Choong

Gemma Noble is a 20-year-old snowboarder from the UK who has risen to prominence in a sport that requires both physical and mental strength. In this article, we’ll learn about her journey – the challenges, the victories, and how she bounced back after an injury.

​​Gemma Noble – A Young Snowboarder’s Journey

Multiple Choice

What do you think might have been one of Gemma’s challenges in her journey to success?

• Lack of natural snow in the UK.

• Having too much support from her coaches.

• Easy access to competitions.

Multiple Choice

What was the advantage of learning snowboarding on artificial surfaces?

• The conditions didn’t change with the weather.

• It was cheaper to learn.

• She could snowboard year-round, no matter the season.

Open Ended

Do you think it’s better to train in consistent conditions or real-world conditions (e.g., snow)? Why?

Poll

Which factor do you think contributed most to Gemma’s success in learning snowboarding?

• Consistent training conditions

• The supportive instructors

• Gemma's natural talent

• The use of artificial snow surfaces

Gemma was always a sporty child, excelling in gymnastics even before snowboarding. Her gymnastics skills, such as jumping and turning with a strong sense of where she was in the air, helped her transfer those abilities to snowboarding. This gave her a unique advantage when starting out in the sport.

​How Gymnastics Helped Gemma Become a Snowboarder

Multiple Choice

How did Gemma's background in gymnastics help her with snowboarding?

• It helped her improve her balance and flexibility.

• It helped her learn how to jump and turn in the air.

• It made her more confident.

Open Ended

How do you think learning multiple sports can help someone become better at others?

Poll

Do you think skills from one sport can transfer to another?

• Yes, they can be very helpful.

• No, each sport is completely different.

• It depends on the sport.

Gemma worked hard, and by 2020, she came first in an event for under-18s, winning a large silver cup. While the trophy is a source of pride for her, she keeps it safely hidden in its box to avoid any damage, despite enjoying showing it off when asked.

​Gemma's Journey to Winning her First Trophy

Multiple Choice

Why does Gemma keep her silver cup hidden?

• She’s afraid of losing it or damaging it.

• She doesn’t want others to see her trophy.

• She’s embarrassed by her achievement.

Open Ended

Why do you think Gemma is proud of her trophy but still keeps it hidden?

Poll

Do you think it's important to display trophies or awards at home?

• Yes, it shows off your achievements.

• No, it's better to keep them private.

• It depends on the person.

In 2021, Gemma faced a setback with an ankle injury. While the injury wasn’t serious, it occurred just before a major international event. Although she couldn’t compete, Gemma supported her team through video calls, focusing on fitness and recovery during her time off.

​Gemma's Journey to Winning her First Trophy

Multiple Choice

What was the major disappointment Gemma faced after her injury?

• She had to miss training.

• She couldn’t compete in an international event.

• he couldn’t support her teammates.

Open Ended

What do you think is the most difficult part of dealing with an injury when you're an athlete?

Poll

If you had an injury right before an important event, how would you handle it?

• Focus on recovery and stay positive.

• Get frustrated and give up.

• Help others from the sidelines.

Now back on the slopes, Gemma is gaining more recognition, not only because of her return after injury but also due to her growing success in competitions. Despite being nervous about the public attention, she enjoys the excitement of interviews and media appearances.

Gemma Returns to Snowboarding and Gains Recognition

Multiple Choice

What is Gemma's attitude towards public attention after her injury?

• She feels overwhelmed and scared.

• She is excited and enjoys it.

• She prefers to avoid it and focus only on the sport.

Open Ended

How would you feel if you suddenly became very famous for something you did?

Poll

Do you think athletes should embrace public attention or avoid it?

• Embrace it, as it shows success.

• Avoid it, as it can be overwhelming.

• It depends on the athlete’s personality.

Open Ended

In one sentence, describe what you learned today about Gemma Noble’s journey as a snowboarder.

Open Ended

What do you think Gemma will do next in her career? Why?

Open Ended

If you were a coach for Gemma, what advice would you give her for continuing to succeed in snowboarding?