How to encourage a 9 yold girl

[CeciC]

How I could help my DD1 (9) not to take the easy way out, when something gets too difficult?
We have 2 DDs and both of them do Gymnastics outside school but not in a competive manner either. They both love it, and they never missed a lesson, doesn't matter if they don't feel ok, they still go.
Now, last monday they were told that there was a competition in June and now my DD1 doesn't want to go (to the competition) as what they have to do is too difficult. when she told me, we started an argument as I won't let her not going to the competition.
I don't know how I could deal with this, as everytime she finds something too difficult, she says that she is not good, so there is not point in trying. We had this with reading.
Any ideas very welcome!!!

Has she cracked reading? There's an example you can give her of something she thought she couldn't do.

Has her coach talked to her about the gymnastics competition? My daughter's music teacher has just talked her into a grade exam and a concert. She wouldn't have agreed if I'd suggested it, but she rightly considers him to be the expert and if he thinks she can do it, it must be OK. She's also 9 and very cautious.

If she really doesn't want to do the competition, I wouldn't push it, but perhaps look for smaller goals for her to achieve so that you can eventually point out loads of examples of things that she thought she couldn't do and managed.

Why won't you let her not do the competition ?

seriously what difference could it possibly make to you whether she competes or not. You're causing your own argument I think

Thanks for the respones.
The competition come from the teacher/coach. I didn't know about it until they mentioned it. Up until now, she hasn't done anything competitive. She does swimming, but they move levels when they are ready, you just get a phone call telling you about the move, as some times that means a change in the time for their lesson, so there are not tests to pass or anything and that it is fine by me.
I am not a competitive mum, I guess if I was, she would be in a very selective school, but I think that some competition is not bad. And it's not the first time, that when things get a litle too difficult, she wants to stop doing whatever it is.
Her reading now is very good. She has improve a lot, but 6 months ago, she couldn't see why she need it to read, as she wasn't very good at it, or she wasn't the best at it. I know that she is not a very sporty girl, she loves art and "do/create" things, but I don't want het to get used to always take the easy way out, when some effort is needed to improve.