Opinion: Chellsie Memmel has nothing to prove — except that age doesn't have to stop you

It started as a joke, one of those cracks made when the family gets together for the holidays.

A year and a half later, Chellsie Memmel is getting ready to compete at the U.S. Classic on Saturday, her first meet in nine years. A month shy of her 33rd birthday. Now with two small children.

"I’m a little bit terrified, to be honest," the 2005 all-around world champion said, laughing. "Having not been in that setting for so long, I’m hoping I’ll have a good reaction to it."

Before we get to the why, we need to go back to that how.