GRACEful Gymnast

Aesthetic Beauty

2011-11-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the pictures I have on my laptop that just capture a sort of essence.

A sort of beauty about that present moment they were taken in.

A powerful reminder of what a still image can show us.

A fragment of the past, captured and held forever in the only form it can be.

A memory. A dream. A thought. A reminder. A glimpse as to what was...

It is but a gift to get to hold that moment.

It brings us back for a moment...

A powerful reminder as to who we are and what we have become. A photo contains so many unspoken words.

Words that will never come about because they cannot be placed.

One day we will only have the memories and photos to remind us of the past.

Forever gone are the moments; good and bad. Buried in the past.

No copyright infringement intended. I do not own the rights to these photos. Please ask me to remove or tell me who to give credit to.

Thank you!

-JD

High Tech Clinic 2011

2011-11-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Region 2 gymnastics held their high tech clinic in Beaverton, Oregon this year.

It was awesome to see some incredible athletes yet also, just as gut-wrenching to no longer be included in the training atmosphere as a gymnast.

Being a coach definitely has it's pros and cons; I am included in the conversations that only coaches of elite athletes have, the secrets of what really goes on at the ranch come out late at night, horror stories that I honestly would rather not know--And we are talking about what goes on in the United States, it's frightening to think about what is happening in other countries around the world. It's also exciting to be surrounded by top level coaches who have personal relationships with other high level coaches and athletes. Likewise, some of these coaches were also high level gymnasts at one point, that's really cool to be treated as equals now in the coaching world.

Yet likewise, having to watch these girls who entered the sport much later than I, and who are now kicking ass at this level is honestly difficult for me to watch. Don't get me wrong, it is really inspiring and cool to see their progression. I love watching high level gymnastics! It's just that sometimes, I wonder what would've happened if I had grown up in a different atmosphere, with more committed, quality coaches who had remained in the gym longer to help my gymnastics progress to the level I had wanted. Maybe I wouldn't still feel like there is unfinished business; this dissatisfaction of never attaining my highest goals, I think, keeps me from putting my whole heart and soul into coaching. Everytime I get too involved, I regret. I think that's why this clinic was so hurtful and left me feeling undeniably sick of the sport again.

Nonetheless, the two girls that I went to coach this weekend did a great job; both listened attentively, gaining some new skills, drills and motivation to continue to progress into season.

Here's a couple of clips of a skill that one of the girls I coach, practiced and got without a coach standing by. First one was perfect timing for hitting handstand, but she apparently wasn't prepared for the catch and crumpled. The second and third were past vertical but not by much, I'd still give her credit if I was judging.

I also gained some new drills to also take back. A few shaping drills that Joe Rapp of HITS showed us were definitely ideal for attaining better bar swinging and controlled, tighter handstands.

Some of the top gymnasts from our region were apart of the clinic as well. Baely Rowe, of Auburn Gymnastics and Destinee Davis, now at MAC, were both present and exciting to watch!

Here's a clip of Baely doing a vault drill.

Overall, it was a good learning experience for both coaches and gymnasts alike from region 2.

The Evolution of Aging Gymnasts & Oksana Chusovitina-Her Gymnastics Purpose

2011-10-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of old faces among the young guns of gymnastics. Of coarse, being "old" by gymnastics standards is a much different interpretation than what it means to be "old" outside of the gymnastics world. Even so, elite gymnasts in their early 20's was virtually unheard of 20 years ago. A sport that was once represented by females no older than 16 has since evolved into a sport shared by gymnasts in their 20's and even 30's.

Gymnasts such as Alicia Sacramone, (24 years of age) and Chellsie Memmel, (23 years old) of the United States:

College Gymnasts who either returned or are, for the very first time, trying out elite gymnastics!

Vanessa Zamarripa, Anna Li & Casey Jo Magee.

Gymnasts who have made the national team well into their teenage years. Prior to Kayla Williams, no one past the age of 15 had made the US National team, competed at Worlds and medaled. Brandie Jay is another gymnast who joined the national team as an older teen and is currently competing at the Pan Am Games for the USA.

Ariella Kaeslin, from Switzerland, seemed to get better as she aged. She retired recently at the age of 24.

Valeria Maksyuta, from Isreal, has added new skills to her gymnastics as well. She is currently 21 years of age.

Even Chinese gymnast, Cheng Fei, currently 23 years of age, announced a planned comeback. China is not known for keeping Elite gymnasts past their teenage years.

Jessica Lopez, from Brazil, also has shown incredible improvement as she's gotten older. Throwing new skills at the age of 25!

Elizabeth Tweddle, at 26 years, looks better than she ever has before and is winning more medals in international competitions than she ever had as a teenager.

Catalina Ponor of Romania, retired from the sport in 2007. 4 years later, she looks as though she never left the sport of gymnastics. At 24, she looks better than ever!

What is it about the sport of gymnastics that pulls girls back into the constant training, day in and day out. What draws grown women back into the structured and rigid world of physical pounding, pain and struggle that they were sent into as children. Gymnastics is a very addicting sport. Not only do girls feel the lowest of lows in this environment, but the exhilerating highs are nothing in comparison to anything in the "real" world; at least not in a controlled environment.

Prior to the 21st century, gymnastics equiptment was a lot less forgiving. A gymnast body was worn down more swiftly and returning to the sport was often not an option. Likewise, information on eating disorders, over-use injuries and training in general was not known or developed. As information has increased and the sport has evolved, so has the ability for gymnasts to return to the sport well past the age of what was originally normal or even probable.

For many of these women, coming back is based on expectation, unfinished business or a need to be in a controlled, structured environment. For many, gymnastics has given a sort of purpose that not many people outside of the gymnastics world could understand. But there is also sometimes a need to fulfill a purpose in one's return to gymnastics.

Oksana Chusovitina's reason for returning to the sport was based on a deeper purpose. Her story is a very powerful one that makes her remarkable road back to elite gymnastics an incredible feat; one that could only be achieved by love, passion and an immense willpower to save the one thing that mattered most to her.

Oksana is currently 36 years old. The oldest, female gymnast ever to win an Olympic medal, which she did on vault at the 2008 Games in Bejing, China. An age that is virtually unheard of in the world of elite gymnastics, and even in the world of elite sports.

Not only that, but her son's leukemia is now in remission. After the games in China, Chusovitina announced plans to retire, only to tear her achilles tendon. Returning from such an injury was once unheard of in the sport of gymnastics. Yet upon tearing it, Oksana decided to give it another go. 1 year later, she was once again on the competition floor.

From a recent interview, Octavian Bellu was quoted saying, "Looking to the world, 22, 23, 24 years old is not the limit. I don't talk about Chusovitina at 36, [that's] something strange. It's from another planet." [1]

I don't think there are truer words that could describe her gymnastics comeback(s) and journey. Her career as an elite gymnast has gone on for more than 2 decades! Older than most of the girls she currently competes against!

She holds the record for most medals won on an individual event in the world championships; that event being vault. Just this month she competed at the most recent World Championships and brought home another medal for that event.

She has competed in 5 Olympic Games and I believe she has her sights set on 2012 in London.

What she has done in the sport is unheard of as well as unreal. She has done something no one thought possible, but it was done out of a need to save all she had. It's incredible what the human spirit will go through to hold on to what is most important, life itself. For all she has accomplished and won, nothing compares to what she has saved. The life of her only son, Alisher.

Bibliography:
[1]http://www.examiner.com/gymnastics-in-national/octavian-belli

I do not own the rights to any of the pictures or video footage.

A Brief Overview-Visa Championships 2011

2011-08-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

Can we all just say, "WTF!"

Visa Championships were a NIGHTMARE!

Starting from day 1 and going all the way through to day 2.

It's my honest opinion and belief that the elite gymnastics system needs to be changed. I miss the 10.0 start value system. I think it was a safer and was definitly a more artistic approach to the sport of gymnastics.

I couldn't believe the amount of falls we saw. It's unusual to be able to count the amount of gymnasts without falls on one hand and not the other way around. I'm actually not sure if that's accurate, but there was indeed a much lower, MUCH LOWER, amount of gymnasts who stayed on the equiptment verses the ones who fell. It's a sad day when that is the case...

Unfortuantly, due to my living situation and lack of cable and a good wireless internet connection, I have not yet seen all of day 2 of the championships and have only seen the youtube version of day 1; uploaded by: FlippinTitan2010

Where to start...?
I think I should just say before hand that watching these has brought me a little bit of joy and longing to return to the sport I left behind. Even just to be a part of it, in a coaching or judging sense. Lately it feels as though all purpose in my life has gone from me, without gymnastics I feel lost...At the same time, I wish I didn't need gymnastics to make me feel my life has purpose. Nonetheless, writing about it is giving me some hope and allowing me to mix two of my biggest loves in life together: Writing and Gymnastics... Hmmm, can anyone say career? I think I should get out of this school and become an entrepreneur in the writing field... But that's beside the point. Back to Visa's...:

First off, I actually really like Jordyn Weiber's leo for day 1. Bizarre yellow color but she looks good in it.

Next thing is, I am so AMAZED by Chellsie Memmel's comeback! Seeing the footage of her first meet back a couple of weeks ago I was completely astounded! Plus I was asking why the f**k she was back and then I watched her. She looks better than I've ever seen her look before. She looks like she's lost more weight, her skills are solid and beautiful, I am so proud of this girl! Way to make me wanna make a comeback Memmel!...

Gabrielle Douglas has potential, but I feel she is still inexperienced. We'll see if time can change that. For now, 3 falls from beam at a meet is not a good thing...At all...Especially when Martha Karolyi is watching. Fortuantly, for Gabrielle, Martha had a lot more to worry about than just one gymnast...

I love the changes and improvements Alicia Sacramone has shown this past 2 years. Even though she fell on a pass in her floor routine, she is still a huge asset to the team on more than one event. She could potentially be in the line up for all three events she is still competing on! Her beam night one was UNREAL! Both she and Chellsie are just so strong mentally! It was wonderful to watch! And I love ASAC's floor routine. I think the music is perfect for her power and she is no longer doing the sexy, sloppy and prostitute like poses that she did before in so many of her past routines. Thank you Alicia for growing up. 2008 changed her not only as a gymnast, but as a person. She is a much different athlete and human being! Bring on 2012 Asac!

Going back to Jordyn Weiber. She is incredible! As much as her coach drives me completely insane, she is one that much of the world has had an eye on for years! Since 2006, at 10 years old, when she competed at JO Nationals, I think many people knew that she would be one to watch for in the future. They were so right!

Mckayla Maroney...I have a lot to say about this one. Her 2.5 twisting yurchenko is NOT HUMAN!!! I have never, ever, ever seen someone perform that vault like that! I just want to watch it over and over and over again! However, I find the rest of her events to be mediocre...I am unimpressed with her music choice. It doesn't fit her. Her tumbling is good when it's done well. Otherwise, mediocre is the only word I have for the rest of her gymnastics...

Rebecca Bross. :( Poor Rebecca Bross... Maybe if she cracked a smile more often, she'd have more good fortune...Or maybe she and Valerie are pushing much too hard. Either way, if you haven't already heard the news, after an unsuccessful round on day one, she had a horrendous mishap on day 2. Watching her on her vault on day 2 I knew it wouldn't end well before she was even on the mat. It looked as though she tried to pull out of her DTY early, and then in that split second, she was crumpled on the floor, crying out and holding her knee. My stomach gets sick just imagining her desperate cries as Valerie jumped to the mat to try to calm her. I had to watch that vault over and over again, I was so aghast and felt an unbelieveable sorrow for her. Brossy has been through so many injuries, I don't know how's she's going to make it to 2012 at this rate. I think she and Valerie need a new plan...

Aly Raisman. Aly has been Miss Consistent these past couple of years. But there is no denying though that her lack of toe point reminds me all too much of Jana Beiger, and as I recall, I think that was a huge reason Jana didn't make the '08 team...Also really thankful she didn't pull an amanar, I don't think she's ready for that vault...

The Caquatto sister's make a great team! It's neat seeing two siblings competing together and not just against each other. They are both huge assets on bars for the United States. Bridgette needs to seriously fix her hair though...I said that at the last meet I saw her compete at. The flyaways are such a distraction and it doesn't look professional at all... Nonetheless, I love watching her on bars!

Anna Li did not make the national team. Sad day... :( I was rooting for her. Just a few too many falls I guess. I hope this motivates her to work hard and make a comeback! However, her bars could also fill a void for team USA's lack of depth on that event. And doesn't she look like Nina Kim? I keep thinking it is Nina and then I have to remind myself that Nina is done with gymnastics, at least I think she is...

It's so impressive and awesome to see all of these older gymnasts coming back, including the college athletes; Anna Li, Mackenzie Caquatto, Alicia Sacramone, Chellsie Memmel and a newer face, Casey Magee. I was very intrigued by the fact that she had never tried for elite and that her gymnastics improved during her college years. This is exciting news to hear and something you don't hear in this sport. Her gymnastics is unique, but I think the likelyhood of making Worlds or Olympics isn't really realistic. It was still nice to see a new face with a cool story, as well as an impressive skill set.

Sabrina Vega... Oh dear! I really like this gymnast! I love her smile, love her gymnastics, love that her coach is Theadora Ungureanu. But someone needs to tell her that every extra swing she takes is .3 deduction! She would've been better off just jumping off of bars... Oh well, better now than worlds or the Olympics right?...

I know I have to get to her eventually. Shawn Johnson... The most over exposed gymnast on the fricking planet. The less I say about her the better. Mostly impressed with her comeback, kinda wish she didn't make a comeback but I think she'll improve more and more over the next year.

Amanda Jetter didn't make the national team...Anyone else surprised? I read from "The Couch Gymnast" that she face planted her dismount on beam. I didn't see enough of her competition to know what else went wrong.

Why is Nastia on the Gymnastics Commity? I think that is slightly unfair... Am I wrong to think that?...

Poor Martha has to be looking at these last two days and thinking to herself that the USA is in trouble... Knowing her and Bela, they'll get the program back underway and the country will be ready for Worlds and the 2012 Games. They have had the experience and I've seen other teams around the world go through the same obstacles and come out stronger. This is only the first step in these girls road to the games...

2012, here we come...

Why have I not heard of this gymnast before? Yvonne Tousek

2011-06-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

I was searching through youtube gymnastics videos as I often do out of boredom. One particular video had caught my attention. It was of a Canadian gymnast named Michelle Conway.

I adored her gymnastics. It was graceful, the choreography was exquisite and I loved her backward switch leap, (if that's what it's actually called.)

I decided to continue looking through videos and came across this:

My first thought was "Boginskaya". Her choreography, her body type and her movement in general was screaming out Svetlana Boginskaya!

And then I found this video of the same routine:

Suddenly, she seemed more like Khorki material. The hair style, the body type (again) and the poise and gracefulness she portrayed in her gymnastics was like that of Svetlana Khorkina...

As I continued looking through vids, I was surprised to find a very young looking and unpolished gem of a gymnast in the 1996 Olympics who was again, Yvonne Tousek...

I was, at first, unimpressed with her beam. I was catching minor deductions in her dance and tumbling, but certain things caught my eye. The first thing was that unusual turn where she steps back onto her left foot, lifts up her right and does a really quick full turn. I had to rewind the clip over and over again to figure out what she was actually doing. And then came the most amazing thing...And I was totally unprepared for it.

I was not expecting much. Maybe a front aerial into a jump or something along that line. Instead she pulled out a front handspring, front tuck! The form was a bit sloppy in the legs but the height into the front tuck was superb! Plus I had rarely ever seen that connection performed on beam. I think one gymnast from Parkettes did it a few years ago and there was a video I recently came across where a gymnast does a flyspring, front tuck for her mount onto the beam. Either way, this was a rare skill combo and I was impressed!

I looked through a few more video clips she was in.

I was once again impressed with the choreography and maturity she portrayed in her 1996 floor routine. She looks young, but her ability to perform was definitly something she had mastered at a young age.

Finally, I looked through some of her college routines.

I sat through the whole 6 minutes and 38 seconds to watch every single one of her routines. I was afraid that I might miss something and thus kept my eyes glued to the screen. I loved her originality, her quirky choreography, her strange skills and even tumbling. In her first routine of the four, she does a unique combination of tumbling skills. I had never seen a round-off, back full, arabian into a fronthandspring step out.

Needless to say, I had fallen in love with this girl's gymnastics yet I have never, ever heard of her! This bothers me because I have been apart of this sport for the last 17 years of my life. I can tell you about gymnasts from the 1970's all the way to the present. I can even tell you certain skills that each one performed in their routines, I can tell you what their floor music is. I could tell you who had bizarre choreography and I can tell you whose careers ended too quickly because of injury. It annoys me that the press has to only show footage of the top, oh say, like 6 gymnasts in the world. I have videos from the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. I have watched them over and over again since I was a young gymnast. I can literally quote Tim Dagget, Elfi Schlegal and John Tesh and yet I had never seen or heard of this beautiful and strangely exquisite gymnast. Something needs to change this.

I am sick of the constant attention that particular gymnasts such as Nasty Liukin,

Shawn (Rabbit-face) Johnson

& even Jordan Beiber *ahem* Weiber get on a daily basis. There are other extremely talented, beautiful and incredible gymnasts out there who aren't getting noticed. The public needs to see them too, in my opinion.

And I really want to see more gymnasts like Yvonne Tousek!

Kate. My New Hero.

2011-05-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

My re-meeting her has been ironic to say the least.

I met Kate years ago while I was on the swim team.

She and my mother were friends and swam together.

This should give you an idea of her age.

I knew she had been into marathons.

I knew she loved to run. Still loves...

I saw her again a couple of weeks ago for the first time in...how many years? Many.

I recognized her but couldn't remember how I knew her.

She came to me first, said she recognized me and began asking about my mom and if she was still swimming.

When she continued talking about having a membership at two gyms, I figured out who she was. (I mean, how many women have memberships at 2 or more gyms?) I don't know anyone else who does...

After that first re-encounter with Kate, I then saw her a couple days later.

I was riding my bike and passed a runner with a teenage body. As I passed her, I realized it was actually Kate. I was immensly surprised.

I then rode another 2 or so miles, before getting off to run 3 miles. As I was riding back, I took a break. As I was about to head back off, I glanced behind me and saw a white shirted figure running a ways back. I recognized her red hair and realized she was still running. No doubt she would be running at least 10 miles round trip. And with having a bike I knew I had been given ample time to ride a greater distance. However, with my 3 mile run, I figured she had to have run at least 3 miles or more while I had taken time to run my 3 miles. In other words, she was running a good distance! I sped ahead, fearing an awkward meeting.

To top it off, the very next day, as I headed out to the 35 mile bike ride and climbed from my car for registration, I saw her once again.

We were both surprised as we greeted each other.

As that day progressed. She and I would pass each other at least 5 times. The final time I saw her pass she yelled out to me, "I don't know why we keep seeing each other, but there must be a reason!"

The next day I told my mom all about the meeting, in which she stated back to me, "You know, Kate does triathlons."

I was stunned. For some reason, I had it in my mind that she only did marathons. Maybe this is the reason I keep seeing her. Whatever it is, she has now become my newest inspiration! She is incredible and I want to be as great as an athlete as she is.

Tri-idea Continued.

2011-05-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

In the meantime...
After the 35 mile bike ride yesterday I have been so pumped up. I was too tired to do much yesterday after the bike ride, likely from only having 10 hours of sleep over the weekend. But I desperately wanted to go for another bike ride or run or something! I smartly choose not to. This morning, however, I eagerly prepared myself for a day of training! I took my little corgi out for a morning walk to warm up. He isn't much of an exerciser so usually the most I can get him to do is walk or short spurts of running. After that I headed out for a nice run.

The weather was perfect. It wasn't too hot when I started out. The sky was over cast and there was a light breeze. The sun did start to come out as I was heading into my second mile. It felt nice feeling sweat break out across my face. The run itself felt so good and easy too! The only real hard part was the final hill back to my house. Afterward I decided that I felt good enough to go for a bike ride...

Maybe not the most brilliant idea ever...

It was ok at first but it didn't take long before my legs started to really burn. Not sure whether it was from yesterday's ride, or that I had just gone on a run or possibly that it was because it was a mountain bike... Or maybe it was because cycling is supposed to BURN... Either way, I was hurting and dying in no time but I pushed for about a 1/2 hour or so. I haven't the faintest idea how far I rode. My guess is that it was between 3 and 5 miles.

As soon as I stepped from my bike I nearly fell. My legs felt like jello. Fortuantly, that was the end of my leg workouts today.

I did try out hot yoga this evening.
I've done bikram but never in town.
And actually, the yoga was called Power. And I guess it was the second level. It was a lot harder and different than I anticipated. We did a lot of plank holds, in push up position. Then lowering down to almost our chests before rising to "cobra". We did a lot of standing pike holds and lunge holds (Warrior Pose). At the end, we even did what was called "wheel", which ended up being a bridge. It was like doing easy gymnastics in a 105 degree room! It felt incredible! I love feeling like I'm working hard, sweating immeasurably and doing basically conditioning exercises! It was great and I can't wait for the next hot yoga class I go to! The special is great as well. 10 classes for $20. I bet this is the only town you can get this deal in!

Oh, and forgot to show you my amazing power fuel after yesterday's bike ride.

Most amazing, tasting thing ever! Basic Ingrediants: Numerous amounts of fruits; strawberries, blue berries (frozen), black berries (frozen), raspberries (frozen), mango, banana, orange, basically any fruit in the house! Then some almond milk, greek yogurt, whey protein, emergenC and agua! Blend and then top off with granola and sliced strawberries.

Mmmmm, AMAZING!

New Blogspot?

2011-05-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided that I think it's time for a new blogspot. Since I want this to be dedicated mostly to gymnastics, and it's slowly becoming a blog for other sports, especially triathlon stuff. I figured maybe I should start another one directed only toward triathlons. However, my issue with this idea is that I currently have 8 to 9 blogs, and 6 of them are in use... Sooooo... I am unsure whether I want to start another one...How many more will I create after the next one if I do choose to make it? Let me know your opinion. Most likely, I'm gonna make one no matter what anyone says... ;-)

My 35 Mile Bike Ride Footage-Short Montage

2011-05-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

New Addiction?

2011-05-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Thus a new day begins.

As I lay in bed this morning I pondered whether or not to get up for the Canyon River bike event. Finally, I knew if I didn't go to it, I would regret not getting to try out my first real bike trip with other people. That is, my first one not counting the beginning green way rides I've been on only twice before.

I wondered whether I should bring my dad's road bike or my mountain bi It was really a toss up. I knew riding a mountain bike would be a lot harder than a road bike but the road bike I have is literally 30 to 40 years old... Plus the breaks aren't great and I have actually only riden a road bike 3 times in my life. I am much more comfortable on a mountain bike... And I also have a water bottle holder on my mountain bike...So, that was the most obvious choice.

I headed out early. I was on the road before 8, for fear I would get lost and have to drive around awhile to find the registration area. I easily found it and got registered and then drove to the starting point. I pulled my out my bike which I had shoved into the back of my car. I found that it's easiest to put in from the back side. Just an fyi incase you ever have to use a car to transport a bike... I began prepping for what I feared would be a hard trip.

People were arriving in droves. I wasn't paying much attention to anyone until a girl passed me and said "hi" to me. I realized it was Tonya who does the beginner green way rides with me. We talked awhile and she obliged to riding with me despite the fact that I would no doubt be slower.

Tonya on the right.

I'm on the Left.

And this was taken after 20 miles or so, but we were still smiling. :)

I met and saw other people I knew and didn't know. Carol, aka- "the Bike Nazi" &/or the "Psycho Bike Cheerleader". (Her nicknames according to her spinning class students), was there, of course. Kate, who is an avid marathoner in the area was there as well. We headed off at 9am and I immediately regretted having a mountain bike. I must have been going over 100 rpms for the first 17.5 miles. What I realized later was that I my gears were in the wrong setting... I know what you're thinking, that was indeed a silly mistake that should've been taken care of much, much sooner. What can I say...I don't know much about bikes yet...but I'm learning. Besides, I haven't had much time to play with new sports like this, I've been cooped up in a gym for the past 17 years...

Anyhow, after the horrid hills, flats and downhills being in a low gear, Tonya and I finally made it to the end of the coarse. Many people were already there, milling around & replenishing themselves before the 17.5 miles back. We were only there 5 minutes or so before people started heading back. So Tonya and I did the same. It was much easier heading back but I was still pedaling way too much. The only part that was relatively hard was a uphill climb that took forever to get to the top. After that, I was done. I couldn't go much furthur even at a decent pace. All I could do was peddle and pray that Tonya wouldn't get too far ahead. I felt kind of bad because I felt like I was really holding her back. And it wasn't until the end when I felt completely wiped out that she suggested that I change gears. I told her it was at the highest, but in that moment, I glanced over at the left side and began fiddling with it. Within minutes I was peddaling at a much easier pace and staying up with her without much effort.

I, however, felt super irritated that I had taken this long to fiddle with my gears. It makes me nervous to mess with them, which is why I hadn't done so up 'til that point. When we arrived back, Carol and some of her "pod" group were waiting for us. We grabbed some much needed energy bars and apples before standing around awhile and chatting.

Overall, it was a really good experience and I can't wait to get more involved in these events and races!

Here's a pic. I got with my cell at some point during the ride...

It was BEAUTIFUL!

During the ride I managed to only sing 3 songs in my head. Something by Paramore, Eminem's-Til I collapse (go figure) and something from the movie "Hocus Pocus"-Wtf?...

I also got some video footage so I might eventually post that on youtube and on here. For now, it's back to training. :)

Just the beginning of a new journey...

2011-05-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

They say when one door closes, another one opens...
This statement couldn't be any truer than it is in my case, right now.
Lately I've been doing something that seems vaguely & strangely familiar...
I've always been in love with "fluff" and gymnastics montages. In the past it has always been the documented gymnastics interviews that caught my attention. They held onto a deeper part of my heart that made me yearn to be like all the young gymnasts at the top in elite gymnastics. I was meant to be in one of these so called "fluff" interviews, or so I believed. When I was a young girl, around the age of 10, I used to watch the interviews over and over on recorded tapes. I could and still can say every line that Tim Dagget, Elfi Schlegal and John Tesh said in some of the early 90's interviews. Here's an example of a fluff peice from 1996 that I can say every single word from...

And this is just one of like 50 fluff peices I can recite every word from...

Needless to say, I have begun watching fluff peices again. I have started listening to them over and over again. I have begun to learn all of the words. But for the first time in my life, they are not gymnastics fluff interviews... Instead they are triathlon documented interviews, also done by John Tesh I believe...

Is this a new path I am being led down? I believe so. All of my life I have always wanted to do the impossible. That's why I became a gymnast. I believe the hardest sport in the world. But there are still things out there that challenge you beyond the extent of anything you thought possible. Triathlons do just that. A sprint triathlon being approximately a mile swim, a 13 mile bike ride and finishing with a 3 mile run. That is not a sprint by any means. How about the ironman though?

I mean we are talking about some hardcore stuff! 2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. I mean we are talking about like a double or even marathon basically! Am I out of my mind to even consider ever doing one? Possibly... But that's exactly why I am considering it.

I am starting at the bottom of course. Meaning a sprint triathlon or quite a few before I start inching up. And that would be if I don't burn out before then...

I've been watching a ton of these "fluff" peices and I think what calls to me about this sport is how deep and strong the emotion of it is. That's something I love about life. I love feeling powerful emotions. I believe this is my favorite montage because of that.

When I watch her cry, I just start crying too! It's just something about training and putting so much of your life toward something that when dreams don't come true... It's gut wrenching...And good gawd, I can definitely relate!

Anyhow, after watching these fluff peices, I naturally became increasingly motivated. Maybe that's why I did that with gymnastics interviews. The more I watched, the more hungry I became for the sport. Either way, it took one montage that drove me to begin my first day of training.

Not only do I like feeling strong emotional feelings, but I think I am also driven by pain and struggles in life. I can't tell you any other reason why it was this final montage that would make me want to begin working toward this sport. I think many people would be turned off and disturbed by the montage. It did the exact opposite for me. I became enthralled...

And so began my first day of training. A hard one at that too...

I hopped onto my mountain bike, fortuantly. The trail I took would have killed my road bike within minutes. I rode only 3 to 5 miles to my old high school, but the trip took a good 20 to 25 minutes. I am willing to put some blame on the terrain. The rocks and sage brush made the bike ride increasingly difficult. Plus I really do need a different bike. I have owned this current one for 11 years since I was an 8 year old girl...

The ride was fairly easy. A bit of burning in my thighs but that was it. I found myself on my old highschools track. The idea of running was not appealing and my body fought the idea. I jogged one lap that pulled myself toward the bleachers to stretch my sore and tight muscles. After 3 minutes or so I was back out on the track. I ran 3 more laps to complete a mile. Even with the stretching, I made the 4 laps in 11 minutes. I took a walking lap to slow my heart down. That took forever. 7 whole minutes for 1 lap. I began running again. My second mile took about 9 minutes. Instead of walking another lap, I instead did the routine Mv and I do when we go for barefoot runs. I did 26 lunge walks forward and backward. Why the number 26? Because the length of the area I was doing them, 26 equaled the 1/2 way mark. I dropped down and did 2 sets of 10 push-ups. My arm muscles are sore from weights earlier this week so I choose not to do 20 in a row. I then did 26 side lunges, on each side. And another 2 sets of 10 push ups.

I decided the weather was nice and my feet needed to start getting callused for summer. I tore off my shoes and socks and began to run. After one lap, my feet were really feeling uncomfortable. I think this track is fairly new so it's not as smooth as an older one. I put my socks over my toes and folded them in half and did one more lap. I decided to call it a day so that I could find some strength to bike back toward home.

Naturally, by then, the wind had picked up and I was riding straight into it. My legs felt somewhat shot and my face felt hot. I peddled hard but didn't seem to be making much headway. I reached the canal bank I had taken to ride down to the school and took a few minutes to breath and stretch out my legs. The rest of the ride went a little more smoothly but the 3 to 5 miles back this time took about 30 minutes or so.

All in all, it was a great first training day!

Retirement...

2011-03-19T15:14:00.001-07:00

Plain and Simple.
I'm done with gymnastics.
Too much drama, politics and fear.
I wish it didn't have to end this way.
Ironic as it is.
2 weeks before state I decide I can no longer continue on mentally.
For the past three years I have gotten injured 2 weeks before my state meet.
This is the first year I have stayed healthy and yet I found the will-power to give up, instead of push on as I've done year after year.
I'm not proud of what I've chosen to do, but it's for the best.
I guess I was never meant for gymnastics anyway...

I made the final decision late last week that I would finish out this month and then be done. I don't even have enough motivation to continue 'til end of season. I would like to go further into this topic, but unfortuantly, due to the "politics" and naysayers of this community, saying too much would either get me nailed for "slander" or my head ripped off. Neither seem appealing. Unfortuantly, you "can't say it, how it is" in gymnastics.

I have watched so much drama unfold in every gym I've ever been at. I was mostly unaware of it until I become a coach and since then my love for gymnastics has been increasingly thwarted. It's so sad because it is really such a beautiful sport that is slowly becoming more robotic and political, day in and day out. I no longer want to be a part of it. I had wanted it more than anything for years and never got the right training to get me to my highest goals and dreams. It's sad and unfair, but I s'pose that's the way life is.

Jordyn Beib-Oh, excuse me, Weiber?

2011-03-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one immensly impressed by this powerhouse yet completely annoyed that she is so good? I had to stop watching the American Cup because I was so disgusted with her lack of artistry yet likewise, just as facisinated with her ability to fly.

I just couldn't handle staring at the screen any longer, listening to Tim and Elfi rant on and on, watching Jordyn's irritating movements on beam, watching her get overscored on floor and winning when I felt she didn't deserve it... Who am I to talk though? All the information I have are the short clips that I couldn't even continue watching of the American Cup and Spanny Tampson's blogsite...I shouldn't be posting my opinions at all during this moment.

Maybe I am just jealous of this ripped dynamo because she's gotten or will get everything I've ever wanted. Maybe I'm this irritated because she reminds me a bit of two of my least favorite elite gymnasts; Shawn Johnson and Carly Patterson. Or maybe it's just annoyance over the fact that I think artistry is so much more important in this sport than just having the ability to flip.

All of the elites nowadays seem robotic in everything they do. And those that seem to have more flair or beauty in dance, tend to have sloppier skills and less dynamics. The sport just isn't what it used to be and Jordyn Weiber is quickly moving toward the bottom of my list of "gymnasts to watch..."

I am so completely done with this sport and would like to never enter a gym, or watched a televised gymnastics event, again for the rest of my life...(Likely chance I will get sucked back into the sport...) This may be why everything that has to do with gymnastics nowadays just completely pisses me off.

Even though I know Jordyn is gifted, another part of me just feels sorry for her for having the life she has: The immense pressure she is under, the coach who no doubt will either get her to the top or destroy her and you can't forget the sheer political side of the sport. It's a cruel world in the elite gymnastics community...

Oh, and one more thing, I believe it was John Tesh who made the mistake of nearly calling Jordyn Weiber, Jordyn Beiber at the American Cup. Too bad he didn't complete her last name, I would've been in tears from laughing so hard...

Look! I spy a Shawn Johnson leap...Ew!

Maybe I'm just jealous of the muscles. God! What I'd do for a body like hers! Maybe popping some steroids would do the trick?...

Nabieva vs Khorkina

2011-02-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does Nabieva remind you of Queen Svetlana Khorkina?
I know I've posted about Tatiana Nabieva before, but at the time I didn't see the same edge and style that Khorkina portrayed. Once I saw Nabieva at Worlds I realized how much she reminded me of the 5.5 ft. diva, called Khorkina. And at the time, I didn't like the comparison. The more I've watched her though, the more I am impressed and enjoy the style she has. I think these two videos, (both done by spannytampson), sum up what I am talking about. And it's about time there was a good Nabieva montage on youtube!

PROFANITY WARNING: Don't watch montage with parents or important collegues around. Tons of cussing, but I think the song is perfect for Khorki.
And whether you love her or hate her, Khorkina is still an obsession.

Copyright of videos belongs to: Spannytampson
http://spannysbigfakesmile.blogspot.com
NBC
Other Various Companies and people

Think Spring 2011

2011-02-19T22:10:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted much about my own personal gymnastics so I figured that's what I would do tonight. These last two months have been crazy; so many ups and downs in the gym. My own desire to continue on in the sport that I fell in love with 17 years ago had nearly been extinguished less than a month ago. I didn't even know if I was going to be able to continue on through the rest of the season. For the first time in my life, I actually felt ready to move on. During the past couple of months, I've felt like I've been stuck. And not so much as in 'gymnastics skill-wise,' it's more of a feeling of not being able to grow up. Normally, life does that for you. You get kicked down and you grow wiser, you go through puberty and grow 3 inches taller, (and wider) and you face things in life that ultimately make you grow up. I've been through it all, and yet for the first time in my life, I was given the choice: Remain in a world of childhood or get out of it, begin a career and grow old gracefully. I know I'm not an elite, whose making money to come back and conquor setbacks. I know I'm not going to get a college gymnastics scholarship; or even be a college gymnast. I am solely living in this sport for the pure joy of it. I came back to finish what I've started and that's what this one season is all about.

This season I conquored fears. Fears I've dealt with for years. I re-learned a whip 1/2, punch front pike on floor. I re-learned a yurchenko and even plan on competing it at the next meet. I mastered flyaways and easily do them by myself anywhere, and I do double back flyaways as long as a coach is standing by. I no longer have any fear of these skills that gave me so much trouble for years.

This season was about forgiveness. My past coach, Michelle and I had gone through many years of difficulty, disagreements and disputes. When I left 3 1/2 years ago, for a new gym, I never thought we would find peace in each others presence. I never thought I would ever come back here, to this home. And when she invited me back, 6 months ago, I didn't know how long we could work together. Things have changed within the past month. She is no longer at this gym, but I know that we have both forgiven one another. I have made an past-enemy, a friend.

A dream I had had for many years, came true this year. Norm and Laurie both stepped back into the gym and it has been incredible having them as coaches. It has been something I have wanted since I was a level 6, and for the first time in my life, I can officially say that they are my coaches.

I have watched my teammates grow up. I trained with them when they were all level 6's and I was a level 9, 5 years ago. Now, they are currently level 9's with me and it has been such an incredible experience. I have never been this close to a group of gymnasts in my life. The only time I can compare this experience to, was being at GGC 2 years ago. But even that can't compared to how much I have learned to depend and support these girls! And all the girls, level 4 through 9, have made this experience this year the coolest one I've ever had!

Today marked the annual 'Think Spring' gymnastics meet.
In 2001, as a level 5, it was here, at this meet where I would earn my first gold medal in the sport of gymnastics. How ironic because I never won Think Spring again... until today.

I didn't know how today would play out.
I knew I had missed gym on Monday, that I had left early on Tuesday, that I had struggled on Wednesday and that I would have one of the best practices I can ever remember, on Thursday.
I knew that my endurance hasn't fully been there, that minor injuries were nagging me a bit, that I was struggling daily to just go into the gym and that my skills had been so-so.
I knew that I currently didn't have a vault. That I hadn't done a full floor routine in practice, or a full bar routine with the straddle back to toe-hect combination.

What I did know was that I was painting my nails, black and red, for my final home meet. That I was going to have fun and do my absolute best. And I knew that this was just one more test for the final meets to come this season.

I was surprised then when I managed to connect my series and stay on beam. I had a few mis-steps. I missed my leap, jump combination and my dismount was sloppy. I got a decent 8.55 and tied for first with teammate, Tamara.

We went in a strange order. Instead of going to floor next, we headed to vault. I knew I just wanted to get this event over with. I did one warmup front handspring and one competition front handspring. 7.675...Ugh
Kelsey and SB took 1st and 2nd on this event.

Bars was next. This was a testing event to see how I dealt with nerves. To make matters worse, I didn't have time to warm up a second straddle back, toe-hect since I didn't make it on my first warm up. When it was my turn, I planned in my mind not to do the toe-hect, although there was also a notion in my head that perhaps, because of all the bad straddle backs I had done in practice and in warm up, if I just held my feet together and waited to let go, maybe I would do a phenomanal one. It was just my luck. I hit the straddle back handstand and pulled my feet on the bar, one at a time to complete the toe-hect. Unfortuantly, I wasn't in the greatest position out of the toe-hect and even though I pulled a kip out of my a$*, I didn't have enough momentum to cast. Good god, it was one ugly cast. Not even horizontal, yet I managed to get a giant out of it. I didn't think I'd make it over on the giant, but I did. I felt myself turn in my blind 1/1. It felt sloppy. And then another slowwww giant into a double back that peeled off rather early. I pulled in tight and my feet managed to find the floor. I was so surprised I had managed to stay on the bar. Sheer grit! They gave me a rewarding 8.75, and the wrong sv. A 9.8 instead of the 9.9 it was supposed to be. Oh well, I was still 'overly' happy with the score I had recieved for such a sloppy performance.

Floor was last and by this time, I was wondering how far behind my teammates I was. I actually figured that Sb and Kelsey were way ahead because of their vault scores. I had the joy of getting to be the last competitor in the gym. And for some reason, I was really nervous. My routine was interesting... My dance wasn't great, I was stumbling around. My tumbling passes felt weird. On my second pass, my front handspring, front layout, front pike, I forgot which foot to start with, so I picked one and somehow did a fricking sweet pass. When I landed, I planted my feet into the ground and didn't budge. My legs felt like jello going into my last pass. And I have no idea how I made the back full without tripping going into it! 8.8.

I was ecstatic with the day but I still actually figured I was in third place. I didn't care though. I was just thrilled to have competed with such vigor and joy in my last home meet! And as nervous as I had been going in, was as joyous and relieved as I was going out.

We received our awards and then Norm was suddenly on the microphone making a speech. Something about a special announcement. And suddenly he was telling me to go to the awards stand and telling the crowd that this was my final home meet. My head was reeling. I vaguely knew what was going on but I couldn't believe it. It was 8 years ago when I watched my idol, Jenny Ehlers, getting the same speech and standing on the podium to recieve flowers as a senior in highschool. 8 years later, I couldn't believe I was living this moment, only I had already graduated and experienced a similar feeling at a gym, far from home. I stood there, grinning stupidly. And then Coach Rachel brought up a mini-plaque to me
and hugged me as she gave it to me.
Thinking about it makes tears come to my eyes, but during that moment I was too surprised to cry. As I stepped from the podium, there were suddenly girls surrounding me. Little Katia, a talented level 6, came to me first and flung her arms around me, asking me why I was leaving. I tried to explain but too many other teammates were wrapping arms around me.
I felt a sort of feeling I had never imagined. There was such a powerful force of energy coming from all of the girls around me, a love I had never experienced. It was a precious moment to say the least.

And as I stood there with my awards, medals and ribbons alike, I thought back to the day I wore my first gold medal around my neck. Back then, standing at the top of the podium meant I got to be the best and that I had won a materialistic award. Today, it meant that I have spent the last 9 years working through sweat, blood and tears to hold a dinky circle of metal. Today reminded me why I do gymnastics. It's not for the chance to be number one, it's not to see what level you can get to or how many skills one can attain. Gymnastics is about learning to love, to respect each other, to see silver linings in the dark, dreary days of training. It's a sport where obstacles make you stronger and falling down means getting back up. Gymnastics teaches so much and it has helped me grow wise in my short life span of 19 years.

I couldn't be where I am today without my team family; my teammates, my coaches, my parents, team parents and friends. I could not be here without all the people who supported and believed in me, but likewise, I would not be here if it weren't for the closed-minded people who tried to pull me down, to make me give up and stop trying. I have to thank them all. But honestly, I have to thank my team for making my last year, the best one!

It seems I've come a full circle... A circle with no beginning and no end.

Born For This...Kelsey Morris

2011-01-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

I met Kelsey Morris early in 2007, I housed with her during a summer gymnastics camp at Leading Edge Gymnastics Academy. At the time I hadn't any idea who this dynamo was or what she would accomplish in the next few years. I just recall her being very friendly, energetic and an extremely powerful gymnast in the gym. Although she was a couple of years younger, we would both began our first level 9 seasons that year.

She would come away with many wins that year, to top it off, she ended up finishing her prestigious season with two event titles during the Western Nationals and would just miss taking the all around spot by .05. She would instead settle with a second place finish.

It would not surprise many when she headed into her next season as a level 10 competitor. However, finishing in the top 10 at her first nationals might've turned a few heads in her direction. Not to mention, she was also competing in the same session as Kayla Williams, who would later be named to the 2009 Worlds team and would capture the vault title; but Kayla Willaims would not win vault during JO nationals in 2008, Kelsey Morris took that title.

It seemed there was much in store for this talented athlete. Going into her second year as a level 10 she would capture vault and floor titles at regionals but would come up short during nationals, placing two spots lower than she had the prior year and placing on only one unlikely event. A 6th place finish on her weakest apparatus, the balance beam.

Nonetheless, she headed into 2010 with high hopes. She would win both state and regional all around titles, going into Nationals she seemed poised to finish in the top three but on her final event, the balance beam, she had an uncharastic fall that would prevent her from even finishing in the top 10.

Late in 2010, however, Kelsey Morris would sign to Boise State University with a full ride scholarship.

Her gymnastics career has been filled with ups and downs, but gymnasts, judges and coaches of Region II would argue that she is possibly the best gymnast in the region. She is a gymnast with a talent and drive few can compare to in this addictive yet unforgiving sport, and at 17 years old, she still has a few more years in gymnastics to impact us all!

http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=205040442

http://www.gymdivas.us/profile_morris.htm

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20101123/SPORTS/711239848/1004

Kelsey trains at one of the top level gyms of Region II with some of the top coaches in the nation.

I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for this gymnast!
Good luck Buff!

Elite Bloggers

2010-12-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

Kyle Shewfelt, Canada's '04 Olympic floor medalist wrote a blog post that really resonates with what a lot of people in the world are feeling right now.

To read more follow this link:

http://www.kyleshewfelt.com/

Leap of Faith...

2010-12-07T21:40:00.000-08:00

It's amazing the type of people you find in your area, in your sport, that you had no idea have a physical disability. More inspiring is the people who don't let anything stop them.

Lola Walters, of Black Hills Gymnastics is legally blind. Not only that, but she is already a level 6 competitive gymnast. At 11 years of age, by gymnastics standards, that makes her quite average. However, this makes her achievement HUGE! There are hundreds of other 11 year old, level 6's that don't have a disability and are not even at her ability level.

Her accomplishment has put her on national news. To hear more about this incredible story, click the link below or watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-pFngGnBe4

Happy Late Thanksgiving!

2010-11-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

Not much is going on that I know about in the gymnastics world at this present moment, but in only a few weeks, the JO gymnastics competition season will be under way!

This year will be the first in two years that I will once again be at the very first gym I grew up in for the first 16 years of my life. I am excited to once again be training and competing there. And for the first time at this gym I will get an level 9 team to compete with! I am fired up and can't wait to start posting footage of this season!

More to come in a few weeks...
:)

Cirque Le Masque

2010-11-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

Last night I was thrilled to get to experience a fantastic performance by cirque! It was the second one I had ever seen live. The show was captivating and exhilerating, not quite as incredible as the first one I had seen, but still a performance I will never forget!

Over the past few years I have thought about following a career path toward performing in a circus-like atmosphere, mostly due to the fact that I have been training my whole life in a gym. Since gymnastics is something I want to be doing my whole life and the chance of me getting to do so is not very likely, then why not follow a similar dream? However, getting the chance to follow such an epic career is going to have to take some sacrifices. Unfortuantly, there is nothing nearby that would allow me to learn any form of circus acts. Plus performing in the circus is definintly no easy task in any way, shape or form. In other words, I'm gonna have to want it more than anything! And another issue will be the injured wrist I've developed that wont seem to heal.. :/

We'll see where my life leads. For now I am content with gymnastics training, coaching and being a barista. Maybe one day I will write a fictionalized story about the circus too. :)

Life has no limits!

"Chalked Up"-Have you read it?

2010-11-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been busy reading the book, "Chalked Up", a memoir of gymnast, Jennifer Sey. Not only is the book an honest reflection of how elite gymnasts had and are still being trained today but much of the story mirrors my own life. The way Jennifer writes of her personal struggles, partially caused by outside influences and partially by her own personality, brought back some of my own heart-breaking memories growing up in a gym.

As a child, gymnastics was what I did for fun. I never could seem to get enough of it; I always wanted to be in the gym. There is nothing compared to the feeling of flipping off of a 10 ft. bar and landing as soft as a cat on a mat beneath, the magic in being able to stick a dismount from a four inch wide, 4 ft. tall beam, the feeling of springs beneath you, throwing you high into the air. Everything about gymnastics is both exhilerating and yet terrifying. It is definintly the most captivating sport for any dare-devil child, but gymnastics is no longer defined by women. Once you hit puberty and learn that the body is not as limber as it was as a child, gymnastics becomes something different altogether. For some, it can become a nightmarish sport of eating disorders, constant training, injuries and addiction. Even though I never reached elite, or even level 10 for that matter; the psychological, emotional and physical issues Jennifer writes of, have all been a part of my past and still linger with me to this present day.

There is one anecdote she writes of, at the beginning of part III, in her memoir that particularly tore at my heart. The reason soley being that I too, have felt exactly as she did in my own life. In fact, I am still recovering from my own personal experiences of being a high level and considerably good gymnast, to literally feeling as though I had fallen from the face of the gymnastics world. Her story writes of returning to one of her earlier gyms, somehow still holding onto what was left of her Olympic dream yet inside she knew that there was no way of recovering, both mentally and physically, to get her back to where she left off at. She discusses her struggle with trying to remain thin at that time as well as feeling her own personal desire of continuing gymnastics thwarted by everything she has been through.

The short three pages of this peice of the story also sums up exactly the way I felt after my first initial wrist injury in the year, 2008. Both she and I will forever have a deep wound in our lives, the realization that nothing went as planned and we can never go back to the way things were. She couldn't let go, like I wouldn't let go. The desire to be the best was much to great, etched in both of our hearts and minds. Erasing it continues to be a struggle in my life, as I'm sure it is in her own. The difference I think is that even though both of us remained sucked in our addiction to the sport of gymnastics, she eventually let go when she realized she couldn't go back. I cling to the sport still, at first it was to solidify in myself that I could get back to where I left off at. Now that desire has left, I have come to terms with my heart and my body. I cannot go back to the way it was, but I can still have fun in gymnastics. I know now why I fell in love with gymnastics. It wasn't soley to become an Olympic athlete or to be the best, instead it is that incredible feeling of being able to do what so few can do, the joy of flying through the air, denying gravity of it's existance for a brief moment. Gymnastics is the one peice of heaven that I can hold on earth during my lifetime and I'm gonna hang on to it for as long as I can.

Region 2 Gymnastics Clinic-Day 1

2010-10-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

I have gotten so behind on blogging. Life has been crazy! Here is a glimpse into what happened on day 1 of region II's first gymnastics clinic of the year.

Most of the footage is of my teammates but there are a few other level 9 and 10's thrown in there.

We had some awesome clinicians there including:
Tammy Biggs
John Carney
Todd Gardner
Yulia Hancheroff
Guennadi Komissarov
Nola Ayers
Patti and Neil Resnick
Tom Koll
and many, many others!

Triathlete/Gymnast

2010-09-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

This week I have increased my hours in the gym, (in both the "gymnastics" arena and at the YMCA).

My Schedule=
Mondays and Wednesdays I train 6.5 hours a day: 1.5 in the pool in the morning, 1 hour of cycling and 4 hours doing gymnastics.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I am for now, just training 4 hours a day at gymnastics, I might increase it in a week or 2.
Fridays work outs depend on how I feel that particular day. Eventually though I will probably be doing 4.5 hours: 1.5 hour swim, 3 hours at gym.
Saturdays and Sundays are also different all of the time. Saturday is mostly my recovery day where I only do swimming for 1.5 hours and maybe some rehabilitation conditioning.
Sundays are cardio and conditioning day. Either biking, swimming or running (when my heel heals all the way), and some strength training sometime later in the day.

Also I am vegan 6 days a week. I am allowing myself to go back to vegetarian on Thursdays and see how that goes, (since Thursday is always the day I struggle through gym training). On a sad/annoying note, I re-injured my wrist...Well I think I just started training to fast on it. Yesterday I made the mistake of vaulting. However, I did do a couple of decent tsuks! But now I am paying for it. It'll probably take another couple of weeks to get back to where I was last weekend... *sigh*. I just want it to heal all the way so I can start training full out again. However, on a good note, despite the fact I have been unable to do a lot for over a month, I still have everything and strangely enough, my bars seem to have improved.

I just need to be ready to go by December. I plan to compete this year and make it through Western Nationals. I am going to break the cycle I have been going through for the last 3 years. This year's gonna be the year! I am so blessed to be at a gym with girls and coaches who support me and don't try to push me in or out of the sport. They are all very patient and that makes my journey and struggles so much easier to overcome.

This is where I need to get back to! Also, since I wont be doing a lot in the gym these next two weeks I am going to really be focusing on my training elsewhere. Last Monday, I made 22 miles in cycling and today's swim practice was:

4x400 w-up (swim, kick, paddles/bouy swim, swim)

50 Easy kick
50 Medium kick
50 Hard kick

Repeat 4x but each time add another 50 to the hard kick. (It hurt!)

Then I did backstroke for the next set:

25 Hard
25 Easy
> Rest <

50 Hard
50 Easy
> Rest <

75 Hard
75 Easy
> Rest <

100 Hard
100 Easy
> Rest <

Then we did the same set with Freestyle. Lord it was hard! But I feel great after so it's all worth it! :) My goal this year is to do a 1600 at a meet which equals 4x16= Ummm, my math is pathetic...I think that's 64 laps. Is that correct? Lol, and also to qualify an event to Y-Nationals which is in Florida. How funny would that be?! To miss out on getting to do Y-Nationals in gymnastics because the first year I was injured and the 2nd year I was considered "too old"! It would be cool to make it, even if it was in swimming. ;)

Likewise, in the gym arena I have some goals, but basically my outline plan is to get healthy by season and peak during State, Regionals and Westerns. Qualify to each and get to compete all events at each.

My final goal is to do a triathlon this year. Even if it's just a sprint triathlon, that is better than nothing and will give me a starting point.

That's all for today!

Update

2010-09-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

It's been just over a month since I re-injured my wrist, yet again, for the 5th time... Since then, something has happened inside of me. I have become so much more aware of my thoughts and where my body is on earth and in the air as well. Diligence and persistence to overcome this one injury has changed me mentally. I feel spiritually changed as well. I began looking for answers immediately after my wrist was re-injured... And answers I did find...within me. I also learned of different alternative healing methods, practices outside of the Western medical field. Also getting injured again made me realize how much my diet needed to change. About a week after I was injured I became a vegetarian. Within the last couple of days, I became vegan. I not only feel better, lighter and healthier; but eating so naturally has made me feel closer to the earth, the sky, the plants and animals. Everything feels so real, like I have been re-born. Maybe I have awoken from a deep sleep. I haven't been this happy since I was probably 8 years old. Gymnastics is a beautiful sport that can change a person into something unbelievable. I have learned more in this lifetime than I could've ever learned without this sport. I plan to keep going as a gymnast for as long as I can!

I also saw this a couple of days after my injury and it really motivated me in many ways. I want to be better this year than I've ever been before in my life, and that is my plan. One day at a time...

Barefoot Running

2010-08-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

I began reading this amazing book this year that inspired me in many, many ways. Apparently, many others are becoming interested in what it has to offer. The book is called, "Born to Run" and has impacted thousands!

Author Christopher Mcdougall creates an astonishing read that incorporates real live people who are changing running history as we speak. The book is of the journey Christopher takes to discover why he was continually getting injured only running a few miles a week, while others could run marathons and remain uninjured. His journey leads him to a virtually unknown tribe, called the Tarahumara, who dwell in Mexico. This unique group of beings are known for their ability to run amazingly long distances and with little resources to propel their strong running abilities. Throughout his journey, Christopher meets many people who all have seemingly inhuman qualities about them.

One character that Christopher portrays in his book is a man named Barefoot Ted. Now if I had known of this man sooner I would've gotten to listen to him lecture at the college I was attending. Unfortuantly, I missed this opportunity but even so I am still uniquely interested in what he has to offer. His story is intriguing and inspiring, and his running method is becoming more of a fad each day! People have become more excited by the idea each day that I finally found a yahoo page that supported the idea that Barefoot Ted has been promoting.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/baring-it-all-the-barefoot-running-trend-2337336/

Barefoot running has started to become a trend. Once again, it seems that humans are shifting back to an older method of running that our oldest ancestors likely used.

Incase the link doesn't open, here's what yahoo page says:

Baring It All: The Barefoot Running Trend user by Susan Rinkunas, RUNNER'S WORLD.

Have you seen the alien shoes spotted on celebrities recently? Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves wear them to work out, actor Channing Tatum runs in them, and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George sports them for beach football.

Just what are these funky, rubber glove toe socks? They’re Vibram FiveFingers—shoes that are meant to mimic the experience of running without shoes, yet protect your feet from dirt and debris. Why would people want to run without their cushy trainers? Running without shoes can strengthen your feet, ankles, and lower legs and improve balance. Some say modern running shoes are to blame for injuries. And one man wrote an immensely popular book that concluded as much.

The 10 laws of injury prevention

Vibram started making the five-toed shoes in 2006, but the trend really picked up steam last year, following the publication of Christopher McDougall's book “Born to Run.” The book describes how Mexico’s Tarahumara Indians have become some of the greatest long-distance runners in the world despite running barefoot or in sandals fashioned from tire rubber. McDougall chronicles an ultramarathon race in Mexico’s Copper Canyons attended by a group of Americans including “Barefoot Ted” McDonald, who either ran sans shoes or in FiveFingers, in case of sharp rocks. The author argues that we’d be better off without the souped-up shoes marketed to us by giants like Nike and Adidas, which he says have done nothing to prevent injuries. The book made “The New York Times” bestseller list, and now TMZ is photographing celebrities in their very own lizard shoes.

According to CNN, the FiveFingers have become so popular that the company is having a hard time keeping them in stock—and stopping counterfeiters from selling knock-offs online.

Some barefoot devotees simply like the sensation of feeling the surface they’re running on while others swear up and down that ditching traditional running shoes has helped them prevent injuries. While there’s no scientific evidence to support the latter claim, we do know that running barefoot or in barefoot-style shoes like the FiveFingers or Nike Free changes one’s running mechanics. When runners aren’t wearing shoes with built-up soles, they tend to land in the middle or toward the front of their feet rather than on their heel and researchers believe that such midfoot or forefoot striking results in less impact on the body. But as Susan Paul, M.S., exercise physiologist and program director for the Orlando Track Shack Foundation says, “To date, there are no studies indicating that running shoes contribute to injury or, conversely, that barefoot running reduces injury or makes you run faster.”

The mechanics of barefoot running

If you’re thinking about shedding your shoes, consider these guidelines:

Barefoot training is not for people who are just starting to run or returning from a long layoff—it’s something to slowly incorporate into an existing running regimen.
If you have persistent or serious foot problems, consult your podiatrist first.
Ease in slowly. Paul advises starting with a few minutes on a flat, relatively forgiving surface once a week. Grassy fields, smooth roads, and soft trails qualify. Running on sand might be tempting, but barefooting newbies should stick to wet sand at first as the unstable soft stuff puts a lot of torque on your joints and is much harder to run on.

Listen to your body. “Barefoot Ken Bob” Saxton, founder of runningbarefoot.org and finisher of more than 70 barefoot marathons, says, “Luckily, your feet are sensitive, which is a good thing. Listen to them and they'll keep you from doing something stupid.”

(No Copyright Infringement Intended)

For more information on "Born to Run" check out Christopher McDougall's blog:
http://chrismcdougall.com/blog/

2010-A Year of Change...

2010-08-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

According to my mom, the year 2010 is expected to be a year of changes all leading up to the shift in 2012. I think it was the year 2008 when I began learning of 2012 and wondering... Much of the world is very skeptical of the idea of 2012, and I don't much expect many people to read this with belief in their hearts or minds. That is your choice, so I ask that you do not criticize the words I am writing.

Early on in 2010 I experienced my own changes and spiritual journies. Inside my heart and changes on the outside that people were seeing. Likewise, people all around me were experiencing changes as well; both good and bad.

One of my teammates at GGC who had never been injured, tore her acl. She was one of the top gymnasts there, after the injury she choose to quit gymnastics. I also decided to take time off because of a wrist injury which was continually getting re-injured since February 2008. I didn't know if I would come back, I had decided I was going to wait 6 months before training again. More or less, I made it about 6 months before I started training full time. I only managed to take off two months before I started working out at another gym nearby. I could not train at Grace after I told them I was likely done with the sport of gymnastics, but I still wanted to train and compete. That's the way the sport seems to work, it beckons you back in. So that incorporated my next change, I began training at Metropolitan. I was not training very much though. After two months, I was only going in one to two days a week for a couple hours at a time. Likewise, I was coaching my very own team for the first time in my life, and it was quite an experience; both good and bad.

Mentally my thoughts shifted as well. Being without gymnastics, living in the world as an adult, not having anyone to go to for support changed me. It humbled me and gave me every reason to feel blessed for any gym training I could recieve. I learned what coaches liked coaching. I learned that sometimes the gymnasts who trained the hardest got the least amount of feedback because coaches simply "expected" perfection and hardwork from them. My coaching philosophy became: "Coach your gymnasts as you would've liked to be coached". I listened to coaches gossip and learned that sometimes, if not often, children are much less threatening; if not wiser than many adults. (At least the adults I worked with...) One day I would love to get to coach, to support every gymnast, to work them hard but to understand their feelings and sympathize with them as well as to teach them what it is to be a great gymnast and a kind human being. For now though, my time belongs in the gym as a gymnast.

At the beginning of the year, I still wanted to return to Grace gymnastics as time wore on, things kept pushing me away from that direction. Strangely enough, it was as though a divine source kept me from returning and showed me once again, that everything happens for a reason. At the end of season the GGC team learned that 3 of the team coaches would be leaving for other gyms. One of the head compulsary coaches; Carleigh left for Emerald City Gymnastics and both of the head optional team coaches were leaving as well. Brian also for Emerald City and Jackie headed off to Roach.

I was left without a gym and many gymnasts were left without a coach. And for the second time in my life I watched as a gym fell apart. A large majority of the gymnasts chose to leave. I also left...for home.

And with that;
I dropped out of college,
Almost retired from gymnastics,
Once again lived home for the first time in 2 years,
Re-injured my wrist for the 5th time
and
Returned to the gym that I thought I had left forever...

It seems I've made a complete circle.

There were other things happening within the gymnastics community that reached my ears but I cannot disclose on blogspot due to the turmoil such gossip has already provoked.

One major shift in the world of gymnastics is the U.S. earning a bronze medal from the 2000 Olympic games after finding that Dong Fong Xiou was actually 14 years of age instead of 17.

Over this past year I have watched two other major knee injuries occur. Two other top level gymnasts in their own gyms have been taken out of the sport for the moment. One gymnast at my "home" gym dislocated her knee and tore some ligaments and another gymnast from one of my past gyms also tore her acl...Her coach, (one of my past coaches) also had a knee injury within the last week. Both Shawn Johnson and Ivana Hong tore acls as well.

Likewise, there have been two major deaths in my family, seperated by only a couple of months. My aunt I lived with for a year was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago. She died last April. My grandma was also killed this past year, in June. She was severly injured in a car accident and died a couple weeks after the incident.

It's been a long, rough journey but change is not as frightening as it used to be. I have learned to cope a lot better and to allow change instead of trying to force things to remain the same. God is changing the world all around us, we are changing and I feel more prepared than ever before for the change that is to come.

Gymnastics and Other Interesting Stuff

2010-08-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

I've been missing the GGC girls lately...A lot. :(

I coached today for the first time in a longggg time and I forgot how much I loved it and how comfortable I feel in the atmosphere. I coached for five hours today and I can't wait to coach again soon! :-)

I also tried hot yoga this weekend, and my goodness, it was AMAZING! Within the first 10 minutes my body was already dripping sweat, and I mean DRIPPING! I have never sweat so much in my life but I guess it's pretty understandable when you are in a 105 degree room, with 30 other people, doing stretches and strength skills for 90 minutes! It was hardcore and I wanted to die! Lol, but I definantly think it is another career path I am very intrigued in following.

I am so determined to be successful and live decently without a college education! Not only do I want to prove I can do it, but the idea of school disgusts me and always has! I HATE SCHOOL!!!

Visa champs are on this weekend! I can't wait to have a team party to watch them the week after!!! This weekend I will however be busy visiting a past coach and friend who is very dear to me! I can't wait to see her! :)

Gym went well today. Norm and Rachel were coaching. I did quite a few double backs on tumble tramp onto the hard 12 inch mat, and also front fulls onto 2 8inch mats, and front full, front tuck on tumble tramp. The rest of the day was eh. I wish my wrist and heel didn't hurt so badly. :(

Childhood Memories

2010-08-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

Gymnastics is such a beautiful sport, in the way that it makes one feel innocent, magical and young. I would give anything to get the chance to start over again, from day one...Or age 8 when I first joined team. I would make so many different decisions, but I suppose what happened was meant to happen. And the place I am in now is exactly where I should and want to be. I am once again at home.

Driving on the highway, back home, as the sun is just sinking over the mountains brings me back to a place once forgotten. Even more beautiful reminisences is being in a gym I have lived my whole life in. It brings back memories of when everything was simple and I didn't care about a thing in the world. If only my body didn't hinder the full gloriousness of the moment. I still hurt everyday. It's tolerable pain but my goal is to not have the pain continue to harrass me this year. I want to make it through a full meet season, the first full meet season in three years. I know I can do it, my body just needs to cooperate with my heart.

Having Norm as a coach again is what I've wanted for the last 2.5 years I've been gone. Whoever thought I would be here once again though. Certaintly not me. These last 2.5 months have been thrilling and fantastic! Being a gymnast is all I've ever wanted, and it's all I still want! This sport has some divine force within it or something that keeps me coming back for more everyday. It's like a good drug or a loving relationship that you just can't get enough of. I am so thankful for the coaching I have gotten from Michelle and Rachel. They have provided more information, patience, love, respect and coaching than I had gotten over the past couple of years. I can't believe I left this behind over two years ago. I love having girls that are now at my level at this gym, who crack me up everyday and push me to strive harder every moment. It's funny how they were once so young and now they seem to be just like me.
They all want the same thing I want...To be the best gymnast I can be...

Coming in the gym isn't a chore for me and I don't know if it will ever be. I love it so much, I love learning new skills, working hard, sweating everyday, pushing myself what I thought possible, doing what most people never dreamed of doing, being a part of a team, having a gym full of sisters, having coaches that provide everything for a gymnast to get to the top and I love the magic etch in the walls of a gym, the childhood of all girls that grew up training for something bigger than most people could understand. This is my sport, this is my dream, this is my life and this is all I'll ever want.

I Miss My GGC Team; But a New Journey With G+ Awaits Me!

2010-07-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened in the past 2 years of my life.

Three years ago I sustained an injury that kept me out of the sport for over three months, and then a week before I was released to start training again, I shattered my foot in four peices. That was a difficult year for me. I missed out on State, Regionals and Western Nationals. I quit training at my home gym that I had been at for 16 years of my life, I transitioned to another gym that I stayed at for a few months and then I made the biggest decision of my life and moved three hours away from home to live with my aunt and uncle, to train at a better training facility. It was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

I fell in love with my team. It was everything I had ever dreamed of. Grace Gymnastics became my new home! It wasn't easy though. The first few months I had to prove to the coaches and myself that I was a capable gymnast. After not training for so many months, (a total of 7). I was in the worst shape of my life and re-learning skills was a difficult task in itself.

Finally, in mid-February I began making progress. I finally was almost where I had been a year before but God had different plans for me, and for many of my teammates. Two weeks before state I re-injured my wrist, in the exact same time frame that I had injured my wrist a year before. I was devastated. I competed one event at state and it was a disaster. Regionals and Westerns were out of the question once again.

I had high hopes of getting to compete at Y-Nationals with my team and began training way too soon. I re-injured my wrist and decided to take the summer off from training. It was gut-wrenching to watch my team come together as a family and win Y-Nationals in the level 8 and 9 divisions without me. I felt like I really didn't belong.

I could not wait out the summer and began training one month later. However, I was much more patient with my wrist and really avoided a lot of skills that would flare up the pain.

When school started up in September and I returned to Grace, all my patience was lost. I pushed my wrist way too hard too fast. I was stressed with college and my body was already stressed as it was. I got really sick and finally decided to call it quits. For once I really felt ready to leave the sport all behind. And maybe I would've had better luck doing so if I hadn't decided to start coaching 5 days a week.

It was an unbelievable opportunity that was rewarding in some aspects but I wanted to return to the sport of gymnastics. I kept thinking of how little I had ever accomplished in the sport. I was reminded daily of how my career was ended. So as I coached, I avoided becoming coaches friends because that would make me the same level as they were. I wanted to remain the gymnast in the situation. Due to this decision, I remained half way between lives. I no longer had any friends because my teammates now considered me a coach and I would not join forces with the coaches. I became extremely lonely. The only social life I had were my 10 years and younger level 4's... I was miserable and stuck in a place I didn't want to be in. That was another miserable 9 months of my life and I wanted out! I lowered my hours of coaching and began training.

I tried to start training with the team at first but I felt unwelcomed, especially by one particular coach. I felt I would not be allowed back onto the team so I began training elsewhere. For the first few months I kept wondering if I had made a mistake. I didn't feel like I belonged, I still felt burnt out and scared of many skills. My wrist still felt like it was not totally healed but I knew if I waited any longer, I'd never be able to come back. I felt like I was starting over again for the third time and I hated that feeling more than anything.

In April, my aunt I had lived with, died of pancreatic cancer.

I began traveling home more often, skipping classes and getting out of work. Coaching became a chore for me. And coming into the gym that I no longer felt I belonged with, (or maybe never belonged with) was agonizing. Especially when I was secretly training elsewhere. I realized it was a blessing I had not tried to return though, God had planned for this. For both of the optional coaches had made the decision to go elsewhere to coach. One coach had been there for more years than I had been alive, the other had been there for nearly a decade. Their leaving was a devastation to the team. Gymnasts began dropping like flies and I eventually quit coaching. It was hard to watch a team fall apart. I had seen it happen before in my lifetime and two times was more than enough.

I was not happy where I was. Returning home gave me such relief and joy that returning to college was like returning to hell. The days that I came home I spent with family and eventually got permission to train at my home gym every once in awhile. Being back at the gym where I was raised seemed so surreal and at first it surprised me that I loved going there so much. As weekends came and went, I continued to come into Gym Plus for a few days at a time. Before I knew it, I was training there more and more. My perspective on life had changed and everyone seemed to notice. As school ended and summer began, I really began to take my training more seriously but I loved every moment of it! This made me feel more confused though. Why would God bring me back to a place that gave me more joy than I had felt training for a very long time, a place I felt I belonged but likewise, a place that I thought would never let me come back to their team. I had no idea what to do. I knew I would not be happy anywhere else. Once again I felt I belonged somewhere but how long would that belonging last, it wouldn't be long before I was back on a road leading to nowhere. And then my prayer was answered.

I was invited back onto the team. I feel stronger, happier and that I'm right where I belong once again. I am so excited and honored to get to be on this journey with other girls my level, with the same dream as I have and loving the sport more than anything. It seems I've made a full circle. And no longer am I doing this sport to try to accomplish something unrealistic. Instead, I'm doing gymnastics because I love it, because I learn new things about myself everyday from the sport, because I get so much joy out of training, competing and being on a team full of strong leaders. I don't feel lost anymore, I feel right where I belong.

With that being said, I still miss my Grace family more than anything. They have left such a HUGE, positive impact on my life! I don't know where I would be today with out them. Since this post was inspired by this particular Grace montage, I decided to post it. You guys are sooo bizarre but I miss your crazyness sooooo much!!! Love you all!!!

A-Sac is Back!!!

2010-07-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just want to say that I am sooo proud of that girl!

Lets rewind 1 year ago: Alicia made the statement that she was considering coming back and I laughed. I seriously thought she was joking, but as a gymnast, I should have known better.

Fast forward to present time: Alicia looks confident, relaxed and strong. She looks in better shape than ever and she looks like she belongs out there! That's what I loved most about last night's gymnastics coverage. She didn't look out of place in the least bit. Infact, I would say that her gymnastics looked stronger than any other gymnast on the floor!

She looked nervous right before mounting the beam, but as soon as she mounted with a beautiful front onto the 4 inches of beam, I knew she had gotten through the hardest part, the rest of the routine was pretty solid and flawless. More so than any other competitor that I saw!

Likewise, her vault was huge! She may not have stuck it or landed as great as she has in the past, but the take off from the table was phenomenal. It looked higher than I have ever seen her (or anyone else for that matter) vault!

WELCOME BACK A-SAC!!!!!

Gymnastics Now

2010-07-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

I bet you all are wondering what I have been up to since I last posted right?... Well even if you haven't been, I am posting anyways. =D

For the past 10 days I have been on an intolerable trip. Ugh, 6 hours in the car, to and from Canada, 7 days on a giant cruise ship in which I dealt with sea-sickness, rain and cold, intoxicating food products and a form of island sickness...Which I will re-name: Ship sickness. It was horrible vacation. I hate vacations unless they are just getting away from work/school.

Speaking of which, it looks like I've been given some new opportunties career-wise! Yesterday, one of my old coaches begged me to take over a group of her team girls. I was really considering it, but it would mean sacrificing my own gymnastics time that I've grown so fond of and plus I've been given other opportunities that may be bigger and better.

One I learned of today. My chiropractor said I should teach "hot yoga". It's only 60 days of training, it gives a good work out, I'd get paid and it's something I'd probably be good at! More benefits! Plus I would probably get to choose hours I did it and it's not too many hours! And since there arn't other people where I live who teach hot yoga, I think my chiropractor would let me use his work facility or at least help me find a place to use.

I've also decided to get my judging certification which looks like it wont be too difficult for at least level 4. I already know the routines, it's just a written test and all I'd have to do is memorize and study deductions and re-learn how to write out skills in short hand. There is a test in September so I have plenty of time!

I have also been given a coaching opportunity right in town which would be preferable over moving, but not sure yet if that's what I want to do. Still, it's an open option for work and cash. =)

On the other side of work is the opportunity to continue in the sport I love. I didn't realize I would miss gymnastics as much as I did over the last 10 days! And today was fun! I notice that I have so much more fun at gym then I have had since I was like 8! It's amazing! =)

I did a lot of good gymnastics and was invited to the gymnastics camp that Gym + is hosting the rest of this week! I was really surprised actually. No one informed me I was allowed to go so I figured I wasn't invited. Then, out of the blue, Michelle asked me if I was coming to the camp. I told her I didn't know I was invited and she rolled her eyes and stated, "well you're part of the team now arn't you?!" I didn't know what to say. I replied, "Yea, I guess so..." since I haven't fully decided what I am doing. In the end, I am definintly going tomorrow to get to train with coaches I have been missing immensly! Brian, Jim, Mark, Norm (maybe), Nola and others I'm sure! It's gonna be a hard 7 hours but I am extremely excited and honored to get this opportunity! :)

Aw, I've missed Bri Bri. XD

2010-07-20T17:38:00.001-07:00

I just realized I never posted my list of skills I've learned or re-learned in the past 3 months! It's been posted on fb for awhile but somehow never made it onto my blog. Incase you're interested, here it is:

Making the most of this summer training, living in each moment, enjoying the present and not even thinking about the future. This summer is the only thing that counts!

Here's a list of brand new skills I've gotten in the last 2 months; May and June:

~ Backhandspring, back lay step out-High beam with pad!
~Onodi onto 8 incher on floor
~Front handspring, front full without any mat-On floor
~Whip 1/2, front full-Tumble trak
~Round-off, backtuck ON beam-With mats all the way up and pad though.
~Yurchenko lays off of drill vault onto resi in pit
~New Dance Combo-Turjete 1/2, wolf 1/1 :)
~Bail over bar with mats stacked up and sting on bar.
~Backhandspring, double-down on h. beam

Here's the list of skills of skills I have re-learned over the last 2 months:

~Yurchenko tucks on real vault landing onto competition level mats for the first time in effing 2 years!!!
~Round-off, Back layout dsmt off of High beam with pad and resi at the end
~Turjete 1/2-Med. beam with pad
~Double Turn-High beam
~Back 1 1/2 twists consistently landed on floor
~Double backs without grabbing legs on tumble trak
~Back 1 1/2, punch front-Tumble Trak
~Side Aerial-Med. beam with pad
~Triple turn on floor
~Blind, front giant-With spot on pit bar
~Blind 1/1's-Pit bar
~Straddle back handstand on unevens
~Layout flyaways by myself!-Off of unevens
~Cast Handstands Consistently on bars
~Tsuk lay drill into pit (off of 2 spring boards)
~Clear hips to 60 degrees-Unevens
~R-off, b.lay full dsmt off med beam-no pad
~Toe Hand-Unevens
~Toehand, toe-hect to kip-Unevens

Adding onto the note since I am still successfully doing gymnastics 1 month later!
July and August New Skills and Re-learned Skills:

Brand New Skills:
Tsuk lay 1/2 off mini tramp into pit

Re-learned skills:
Blind 1/1-Uneven Bars

Vlog #1

2010-06-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a vlog this morning instead of a blog. I sound like a man. LOL.

I had not planned on making this vlog this long. Lol. So if u make it through the 8+ min., ur my hero. This is basically a recap of my long and tedious 2 year road in the sport of gymnastics and also includes what's going on in this present day since a lot of you are probably kind of confused about my life lately...If you know me personally that is. Since I had been pretty secretive about it for awhile, I have decided to come clean in explaining exactly what's going on. And I was too lazy to put in contacts...Just an fyi. I think that explains it. Enjoy-Or at least try to. ;)

A Re-born Flame

2010-06-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe what happened today...

So many doors kept opening and closing for me, but none that were quite right...At the beginning of summer I moved back home, away from the wretched school I felt I'd been imprisoned at for the last 9 months. I had not been committed to gymnastics since last October and even then I had been struggling with being at the gym everyday, dealing with intolerable pain in my wrist and back for the last 2 years. I decided before summer began that this would be my last summer as a gymnast. I felt more ready to let go than I have ever felt in the past, but I felt confused...Confused about what I was supposed to do with my life...I have never thought about my life without gymnastics. A part of me still wanted to do gymnastics, but the only way I could do it was to make sacrifices. I had been making sacrifices for this sport more than long enough. I just wanted to live at home for a year, take a break from college and figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. But what the hell was I supposed to do at home for a year without gymnastics and without schooling. I kept going through different options. Quitting and joining dance team, moving to a different school to keep training as a gymnast, applying to a school to do gymnastics on a college team, work as a gymnastics coach or totally leave the sport of gymnastics behind. I have been offered over 5 coaching opportunities over the last year! And yet after my last job as a coach, I realized I wasn't ready to just coach...Not until I was done with my aspect of the sport. I decided to give this summer my one last shot to see how many skills I could get, I would decide what I needed to do by August, but I kept reminding myself that I was prepared to let go of the sport.

I started training at my very first gym, the one I was practically born and raised in. The gym I had been at for 14 years...but it had never been good enough for me. My expectations were always too high. I felt I wasn't given the opportunity to excell that I should have. I wanted hard coaches that could rocket me to elite...I should have known long ago that that was never even an achievable goal anywhere. I would have never been given the opportunity to go that far in the sport. I was too rebellious and sharp tongued as a child. And as I got older I did what I wanted, including what I wanted in the sport of gymnastics. Little did I know that that would change when I moved gyms at the "old" age of 17. I learned what most gymnasts go through, the good, high level gymnasts. The ones that get burned out early in their careers. The ones that are lucky to make it 4 years in collegiate gymnastics. After less than 2 years more at much more stringent gyms, I realized I liked choosing what I wanted to work, skill-wise as a gymnast. Likewise, I liked being the one to push me. No one else can make me perform well or work hard for what I want than me. And as I started training at home again, I realized how much I took for granted the years past at this gym.

Skills started coming back quickly, new skills started coming too for the first time since I had been at this gym. I liked training again! But I knew I could never ask to return to the gym I had caused so much disruption and chaos in, they would never let me return even if I had wanted to. I tried to push the idea out of my head and focus on just enjoying the process, but my future and what to do with it kept harrassing me. Too many different options were available and none were quite right.

Then today at gym, I was working series on beam when suddenly Michelle asked, "Do you wanna compete for us next year?"
I stopped, not believing the words I was hearing, I looked over at her.
"W-what?" I finally stuttered.
"Do you wanna join team with us and compete here next year?" She asked confirming exactly what I thought she was referring to.
I looked confused, as well as unsure about what to say. I couldn't believe she had actually asked me the question that I would've never had to courage to ask her.
"Um, I don't know.." I finally stated.
"You don't have to decide now, you can wait til the end of summer before you make a decision." She assured me.
I then went on to tell her about my email to SPU and what the coach had written back. I told her that I thought about trying to get on the team in a year but didn't have a place to train.
"I just didn't think you'd ever let me join the team again." I told her truthfully.
"Of course we'd let you do team again!" She stated in surprise.
She smiled, "Besides, all the girls love you and would love having you on the team."
"Ok," I said, still in shock, then added "that'd be really cool!"
She then hugged me and added me to the team skill chart!
I have been on cloud 9 since practice and so excited for the path God's laid out for me to follow..back at home again. :)

The Khorkina of Great Britain...

2010-06-15T14:20:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth Tweddle has been one to watch over the past decade, now at the age of 25, she has proven that she is still one to keep a close eye on. Not to mention, her routines are considerably harder, more artistic and original than they've ever been! Most gymnasts fade out by their late teens or early twenties, Tweddle on the other hand seems to have become increasingly more fantastic as the years pass. Her most recent performance at the 2010 European Championships in Birmingham, showcased signs that the code may in fact be improving.

Her floor routine is highlighted with a double arabian piked immediately connected with a lovely split jump! All of her passes are of high difficulty but I was completely mesmerized by her last pass. Even after the first two difficult passes and some high valued dance skills strung through out the routine, she managed to have more than enough endurance to end with a back 2 1/2 twist, punch front full into an immediate sisson! I really love how the new code highlights jumps out of tumbling! Especially when it is performed so beautifully as Tweddle makes her dance elements look. The crowd loved the routine as well, clapping to the beat as she began her tumbling sequences and cheering loudly as she finished her final pass. She not only won that event but then went on to perform an enchanting and likewise very original and artistic bar routine which highlighted a bit of Khorkina's magical style and flair.

Tweddle began with a very difficult combination of heely right into a sky high khorkina connected with a lovely gienger. She then performed two incredible tkatchev releases from a toe-on. The first piked, and the second straddled and then caught with hands crossed into reverse grip, (Pheobe Mills is the first one I have ever seen perform a tkatchev catch like that of Tweddle's), and that led to an immediate release to low bar which looked like a straddle back half. (Nicoleta Daniela Sofronie is the only gymnast I've seen perform this skill). The difficulty doesn't end there though. Tweddle then goes into a toe-hand connecting it into another Khorkina styled skill to high bar, also performed from a toe-on instead of a clear hip as Khorkina first unveiled the move from. Tweddle then ends the routine with a stuck full-out from an immediate cast handstand. The same dismount, I believe, that Khorkina used. Not only was the routine packed with unbelievably original and difficult skills but likewise, every cast handstand was hit right on top and each skill was done flawlessly! Her form was perfect from her toe-point to her legs tightly glued together.

I can't wait to see more of Tweddle in the future!!!

A God Given Gift?

2010-06-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was watching, "Touched by an Angel" the other day. (I know, I'm a nerd), but I love that show! Anyways, I watched one particular one in which the angel, Tess, was telling one of the characters in the show, a woman, that she was given the gift of poetry. Poetry was her passion and was used to better the world. Tess told her that everyone is given a gift, a talent, a passion from God. And that, God doesn't give us passions without having a purpose for that love. I thought to myself of my own passions; none have ever been greater than my passion for gymnastics. I feel in love with the sport when I was barely walking and the love continued to grow within me over the next 15 years. However, there have been times where I didn't give any gratitude to God for giving me such a precious and beautiful sport. I used the sport for my own pleasure and for my own reasons. My success was never contributed to the God that gave me the talent and desire for the sport. The more I let this truth sink in, the more I realize that there must be a reason God has allowed me to still want to do gymnastics, to still love the sport and most of all, given me the ability and body to still continue to train. However, there isn't one day now that I take for granted. Instead of going in for just my own benefit, I am trying to go in to inspire and uplift everyone around me. I am now trying to be a more encouraging teammate; giving help whenever I can. God doesn't make mistakes, there is a reason for everything. And while I still have a passion for gymnastics and a body to allow me to continue in this sport, I am gonna keep on going. If I only get one day; I'm gonna take it, if I only get one summer; I will take it, if I only get one more season; then so be it. Whatever happens, I am trying to stay in each present moment, loving everything God has given me, and trying not to cling tightly to any earthly things. This summer may be a test of my faith, but so far everything is proving that I still have time in the sport. Even so, I understand that overly-caring for the sport is the last thing I want to do. I am allowing myself to not care, at least not the way I used to. I am not looking into the future anymore than I have to, nor the past. If this summer is the last one I get in this sport, then it's gonna be one hell of an awesome summer!

So far, last month and these two days of June have been exhilerating! I was exhausted when I went into the gym today but I was excited to see Coach Nancy. This gym is so funny, it doesn't seem to matter how hard you try to get away, somehow people always find there way back. Both Perry and Nancy have returned, at least for now. Today was pretty uneventful. I was really tired. This was the third day of gym in a row, my wrist was hurting, and I have been going on walks and runs everyday this week so I wasn't really up to doing well at practice. It seems that not "caring" has allowed me to feel that "wasting time" is okay, I no longer feel frusterated, upset or angry when I'm doing skills that I will probably never compete or even do again. When we go to snack-break I enjoy getting to talk to my teammates; and Nancy in today's case. Then on tumble tramp we worked whips, and then moved onto whip 1/2, front lays. Mine felt good and of course, this prompted Michelle to suggest I make the front layout into a front full twist. I secretly had been contemplating going for it before she spoke, but I wouldn't have unless she had suggested it. Only 2 years ago, I shattered my foot on a tumble tramp doing an attempted front layout, front full. The only reason this injury happened was because instead of staying in each present moment, I was only worried about the front full. The result was that I attempted to do a front full in the front layout and well, it didn't work out so well. Likewise, in 2006/2007 I became very fearful of whip 1/2's and basically any back tumbling due to the fact that I landed on my head on a whip 1/2, 2 times in a row. That stupid mistake also happened because I was thinking too much ahead. I have a tendency to do this in both the gym and in life outside the gym... As I stood at the end of the tumble tramp, preparing to go, my mind momentarily slipped and I thought of my tumble-tramp, front full accident. Then instead of holding onto the thought, or even thinking anything else at all, I just jumped backwards. I stayed in each move, backhandspring, whip, whip 1/2, late twist I thought to myself, and then I was rebounding forward and twisting. I landed on my butt in front of the mat at the end of the tramp but I went for it, was safe and wanted to do it again. =D I continued to work on it til the end of practice, since we only had about 15 minutes left anyways. When Michelle told us to take our last turn, I said outloud that I was going to land this one on my feet. No one was listening, but I didn't care. I went for it, this time turning the front full over a little more and easily landed, perfectly on the mat. Michelle cheered for me, in fact she seemed more excited than I was. Honestly though, I am very excited at the progress I've made and the risks I've decided to take. I guess "not caring" has it's advantages, and apparently so does staying in the present moment!

Gymnastics-Kamloops-Practice-Life

2010-06-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened in the last couple of days.

Basically, I didn't make it into Cirque, but I wasn't ready yet so that was what I was hoping and planning on happening. However, even though I was rejected, the trip gave me confidence in myself in knowing that I actually had the skills to make it. I just hadn't been working them consistently to feel ready to do them. Looking back, it actually makes me laugh that the woman told me I just needed to get some double backs, off of bars, rod floor and tumble tramp. I nodded, but I really actually DO have double backs at those 3 places... I just hadn't done them this weekend because the equiptment was new and I took too long to warm up. Like I said though, I wasn't ready and I didn't really want to make it to Cirque just yet..Not til I know what I'm doing with my life.

The next big decision I have made was that I am not returning to college next year which may mean that this summer will be the last one I have as a gymnast... :( It makes me sad yet at the same time I feel like I'm not going anywhere. I keep relapsing; Injuries, training for a few weeks then not training at all, and other personal issues I've been dealing with. Maybe it is time to be done. Yet since Kamloops, something happened.

I went into the gym last night. My very first gym, wait...technically 2nd, but first gym I was on team. And I did amazing!! I was tumbling incredibly well. Landing all of my back 1 1/2 twists to my feet. Then I was doing double backs easily on the tumble tramp and I wasn't sweating with nervousness. I felt really calm and relaxed about the skill. I ended with a back 1 1/2 to punch front on the tumble tramp.

Then on bars I was finally making my casts all the way to handstand. I then proceeded to make a full length, level 7ish routine...easily... Kip, cast hs, 2 iar clear hips to 60+ degrees, jump to high bar, kip, cast, giant, giant and then did a layout flyaway without anyone standing there! That would be the first one by myself in over a year! Plus the routine was almost too easy! I went onto blind, front giants and felt more confident in myself. I kept my shoulders open a lot better and was almost making the front giant, finally! I then did toe-hands, made 2 iar, almost 3!

Here are the picture(s) I promised:

I hate this picture with a passion. If only I hadn't sounded so dumb when I talked to Sabrina, then I wouldn't have had such an irritated-awkward-half smile on my face. Ugh...

Here's where the Canadian nationals were held!

And the gymnastics center I auditioned in!

We weren't allowed to take any footage of the actual audition.

And here is Canada's flag. =D

It just makes me wonder why...I don't understand why I love gymnastics this much, to literally come into the gym everyday even though I have so many reasons not to. Now I don't know what to do. All I can focus on right now is living each day, in each moment. Not worrying about the future or the past. Just enjoy the journey. Afterall, that is part of my life purpose; learning to live in the present.

Kamloops-Canadian Nationals

2010-05-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

The drive to Canada was uneventful...til I realized the big Canadian gymnastics meet was 5 minutes from our hotel! By the time we got there the meet was over but I managed to get there in time to see the Canadian National team and talk to Sabrina Gill. It was beyond awkward. I get so tongue-tied around elites...Ugh. I managed to get a picture with her and probably made her think I was socially retarded. Oh well... The picture is gonna go on as soon as I'm back home to upload it. I will keep you updated on the audition tomorrow. And since we are now on that subject, I caught sight of Rick McCharles (aka-gymnasticscoaching.com), but was unable to chat with him since he was conversing with other people at the meet. I look forward to seeing him tomorrow.

Moving Out

2010-05-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

Not only am I moving out and back home tomorrow but Auburn is also in the process of moving.

Fortunantly, I was somewhat aware of this due to fb postings. Even so, I was not prepared for today's practice to be a "moving out/working day". I enjoyed getting to know the other girls better though. We cleaned both foam pits out and it was disgusting! Sidney was busy rapping, Amber kept throwing foam at me, Chase was throwing bags of foam at Sidney and D, and D said a bad word!

After we managed to fill a truck full of foam and mats, Coach Peter sent us to beam. We figured it would be normal training, instead we were ecstatic to be paired off into four teams to have contests against each other. It was so much fun! On beam, we started with easy(ier) skills. Backhandsprings and backtucks. Then we got to the challenging stuff, stalder and forward rolls, and double turns. It was bomb!

Then we headed to floor, to again play as teams. We had bizarre contests. Handstand walks over each other, handstand contests, (I got third).--Baely and Alexis won, and technically they are both at tops level of conditioning since both have/are training for elite. We had back tuck contests, skill contests, (where we could pick who did what skill) I went up for a triple turn and did a flawless, amazing one! It was awesome! We had to do improvs. One was to imitate Madi Podlucky. Haha! That was a priceless improv! We had to act as animals, and then we had to sing Lady Gaga. It was as if this was a practice test for this weekend. I walked out, since I was the only one left on the team, and when I was up I sang loud and clear, "Ra ra ah ah ah, roma rom ma ma, Ga ga, ohh la la, watchurbad romance!" My dance moves worked well too and when I finally came back to reality, Coach Peter's eyebrows were raised in surprise and his smile said it all. Baely Rowe and I won that contest! =) Then we played add-on, my team won with my Produnova that I added at the end. =D The girls wanted to see it again so I had the priviledge of doing it once more for everyone! I <3 the support of the girls, my new teammates. I am excited for next year, next season.

I just am worried about this summer. I am gonna need at least a few weeks over here to train. Thankfully, I have many new friends I might be able to stay with. Mia, Julia, Elizabeth, AGC girls? We'll see, somehow it'll all work out. "All is well".

And when I come back, AGC will have moved to a new location. Hopefully it's a good change!

Grace No More...

2010-05-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

I dropped by Grace this evening.

Evanni has already transitioned to a new gym, Mary is leaving on Friday and I have no idea how many others who have already left or are on their way out. :'( It's so sad to see a once flourishing gym that had become so incredible, suddenly fall to peices. I watched it happen once before at my very first gym, after that, it was never the same... It's such a high turnover sport anyways, it would only take a few years before all of the optionals would have moved on, but it's so hard to know that in a month, nothing will ever be the same...The coaches will have moved on, the gym team they worked so hard to create will no longer be the top team and girls will start dropping like flies, (They have already begun to do so).

Dear Grace Team,

I love you guys so much and miss you already. Unfortuantly, change is bound to happen in our everyday lives. We can be comforted in knowing that God always has a plan and that change will always lead to something bigger and better. Have faith! Forever and ever, we will always be a team and a family. Thanks for allowing me to become a part of the family. I Love you all!

-Pretzal702

On another note, I keep having signs show up about this weekend. And yes, I am literally going up to Kamloops to try out for the cirque audition. Mostly just going for the experience and fun since it's likely I wont get in, at least not my first time. Ironically, here is what one of my youtube subscriptions, (sgmarsden), posted today.

No New News

2010-05-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Not much has been happening in the "elite" gymnastics world for the past week. Apparently Pacific Rim Champions did air on NBC and fortuantly I had a friend record it so I'm gonna have the enjoyment of getting to not only watch gymnastics but also experience the PAC Rim Champs with a buddy!:-)

Not much has been happening in my own gymnastics world since getting my new beam series. I'm still just getting back into shape slowly and painfully, but I'm loving the process. This week has been the most hours I've done in over 6 months. I made 23 hours and went to practices 6 days this week. Might I mention I trained at 4 different gyms in those 6 days. I just realized that...I'm excited to say that everything is starting to get easier as well! However, these last two days have been more difficult, partially from lack of sleep since in the last two days I have slept approximately 9 hours and driven in my car for about 6 hours. Not the most fun experience, but I pushed through and somehow made it through a 4+ hour practice today.

Left home at 6am to get to the gym. Fortuantly, I came prepared with running shoes. Mary, one of the the fastest women in Tricities, was running us today. It was actually a really fun, challenging trail run that lasted about 20 or so minutes. Then we played Black Jack the rest of the day. I know, I know..Black Jack is a form of gambling. LOL. This is a different type of black Jack though, well sorta. Basically the game starts by rolling a die, depending on what number you roll will decide the event you go to, you then roll the die again and the second number will tell you what skill you are to do. After you complete the skill a certain number of times you get to do the real blackjack part, in which the gymnast pulls two cards and coach pulls two cards. The person with the card at or under 21 wins!

Since that was about the extent of my day, I'm going to leave my post at this. Plus I'm going to go see a movie with my mom and sis tonight! =)
Cheers!

Beam Time!

2010-05-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

My list of new skills keeps increasing!

I have been struggling with deciding what to do with my future. I had been trying to go for a chance to be a SPU gymnast, that idea might have gone out the door with the D+ I recieved on my last paper in English...

I came down to a few conclusions.

Either go back college and compete club at Auburn, drop out of college which means no gymnastics or try out for Cirque Du Soliel.

You may think I'm kidding about the last option. I'm not. I talked to my mom and we are most likely traveling up to Kamloops for the open audition this month. Even if I don't get through to the selection process, it will still give me an opportunity to experience what it's like and then I may try again for the next open audition in like a year or something.

God works in mysterious ways.
For years I have desperately wanted to go to an "elite" level gym with good coaches. For years I have been stuck in a place I didn't want to be training at. A gym that had no optionals, short training hours and some coaches who didn't really care. Then I got injured. The injury took me out of the sport for 6+ months. I went back to my "original" gym to get back in shape and then to a gym in Wenatchee that was kind enough to allow me to get strong again. The coach got me in shape without killing me or expecting me to do more than I could handle. It was the first step in coming back to the sport. I traveled across to state to train at another gym, Grace Gymnastics, and the coaches helped me get back to almost where I had left off but before I had made it, another injury sidelined me. I headed to Tricities to train with one of my past coaches who helped keep me in shape despite the injury. It wasn't enough time to recover and soon enough I was out again. For the past 6 months I have been coaching at Grace, I planned about just taking 6 months off and then returning to the sport. Unfortuantly, people kept telling me otherwise. After only a few months I felt like maybe this was the end. I tried to stay motivated but apparently Grace was not the place to continue. I tried a couple of gyms but I was still waiting for the injury to heal. Finally I knew I had to get back, it was now or never. My coach in Tricities talked to the Auburn coaches and that's where I decided to train. I understand now why God waited for this year, this moment, before he allowed me to find the gym I'd always dreamt of. I was much too immature at my first gym. I was disrespectful and going through my own issues that had to be worked out. I grew up through injuries and learned more about myself but there was no way I would've survived the conditioning or hours after my first injury. It took me 6 months before I actually was in decent shape. It's still a struggle and now, instead of clinging to the sport like I did before I just allow it to be a part of me. If I decide to quit, then so be it. Now it doesn't matter, this part of my life God has allowed me to choose what I want to do. Whatever I decide will eventually lead me down the path I will follow. For now, I have many different roads to choose from. And at this present moment, I pick gymnastics.

With all of that being said, I awoke early this morning; 5:30 to be exact. And drove to practice from my home town. It was a long journey and I felt jittery and nervous for practice. I had accomplished the task I needed to get done last week which was going over on vault again, so I wasn't worried, just nervous. Lol.

I felt tired the whole way and was worried it would affect my gymnastics. The conditioning Coach Peter gave us was intense but it felt good once we made it through. Then we went to beam. I was excited for this event and it had been the event I had hoped we would go to. I eagerly did the warm up. Then I made Coach Peter laugh when I skipped past the backhandsprings and first went for backtucks. I warmed up backhandsprings on floor. I was about to head up to a high beam when Coach Peter said, "Show me a backhandspring, layout". I easily did one. That needs to go on the beam he stated. I figure he meant low...Nope, he meant high..with a pad. I did a few backhandsprings. He watched and yelled, "you should've gone on that one!" I kept balking, I had never done this skill. Not even on a low beam, well I had Rachel spot me on them 3+ years ago but still... Yet Coach Peter believed in me, he kept reminding me that I had to throw out the old Janet. "if you can't leave behind who you were, then we can't move forward." He stated, and I knew he couldn't be more right. Part of me, (the old me) couldn't believe I was actually going to go for this. Everything in my past told me why there was no way I could do it. Yet there was another part of me who just kept saying, "focuse on the skills, one at a time." I was shaking a lot. I went to the floor to do some more on a line. Coach Peter walked by and said, "this is a mental task, not a physical one." That statement in itself meant a lot. It told me that I physically could do it if I just let go of my thoughts. I stood on the beam and powerful thoughts swarmed through my mind, this part of your life is unscripted, you can choose whatever you want to do and it will not matter. And I with that true freedom I prepared myself. "This is your last one Janet," Coach Peter said. I nodded. I stood there, shaking, and then leaned back. I saw Lindsay vault on the rod floor drill as I pushed off into my backhandspring, it was straight and with that I jumped into the air and flipped over just like I had done on the floor many times. Not only that but I landed easily on the beam. I wooped and hollered, scaring Coach Peter, (I'm sure) as I jumped into his arms...Literally. Looking back on that I should've controlled my joy, but I was too much in the moment. A beautiful, breath-taking moment I thought I would never again get the chance to experience since my last wrist injury. Apparently, "never say never" is a true statement. =)

Gymnastics: The Comeback is Good!

2010-05-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

After feeling miserable about school I have come to find that once again gymnastics gives me a sort of meaning to life. After a rather depressing and fearful workout last Wednesday, I decided today was going to be different. I awoke ready to face any challenges that came my direction. Fortuantly, I was ready for the workout Coach Peter had planned for us.

After many minutes of conditioning, it was off to vault. This was the event that had given me trouble on Wednesday, for some reason I just felt terrified and couldn't get myself to even cartwheel to the board. I wonder if it had to do with feeling so much pressure in so many different directions. I had a little problem getting my run going but once I figure out my steps and went over on my first one, I was fine! I made all of the rest of my round off, backhandsprings over the vault. Some of my hurdles were slowed and not very good, but quite a few of them I was really being aggressive and could've easily flipped if the vault had been a bit higher. I was pleased with the progress I had made and headed to class in a good mood. I then made the three hour drive back to my hometown.

I had decided to train at my first gym I had been a part of when I arrived home. The workout went really well and Rachel seems to have bumped up the amount of conditioning which is definitely a plus. It was only three hours but we accomplished a lot in that time frame. Floor was first and I actually did front fulls in front of a mat, a big step for me because I tend to twist too early when I don't get to land on the mat, and even though the first couple did twist early, by the end I was dive rolling out of them onto the mat! I also worked some double backs on the tumble tramp and trak! I showed Rachel my new dance pass and she liked it. -My turjete 1/2, wolf 1/1. The rest of practice went well but floor was the best event and reminded me of how far I have come since the injury that happened to me a little over 2 years ago. I am on my way back, and finally I am healthy. =)

Thanks to everyone who has supported my dreams and goals! I can't wait to see what this year brings! =)

Rumors...

2010-05-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

There's so much drama in the gymnastics world. A lot of the time I feel like I'm living in a soap opera. One of my more recent posts had to do with PSSG-Puget Sound School of Gymnastics closing. It looks like there is a possibility that this did not occur. In fact, according to the rumors, it looks like Brad may have bought the gym back! He is currently at Roach, but looks like he is thinking about branching to gym off in 2 locations! This may still be all rumors but the whole situations going on are insane. It seems that once I entered the world of coaching I heard so much more gossip about this region than I ever realized went on!

On top of that, I forgot to mention the locations that the Grace coaches are traveling to. Brian and Carleigh have both been hired at Emerald City Gymnastics. Not only that but more rumors have it that Tony Ammons will be heading over there as well! Jackie on the other hand is heading to, the one and only, Roach Gymnastics that I have so feverently been discussing. It should be interesting to see how this all plays out...

New Rule...

2010-05-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

Good God! The stupid rules in gymnastics are changing again. It's fricking ridiculous! I am still against the "new" code of points where there is an open ended scoring system, but I have come to terms with the idea since I don't think we have much of a choice in the system. I was also increasingly irritated that the amount of gymnasts in the team competition at the Olympics was narrowed down to 3 up, 3 count. Now, to top it off, instead of taking 6 girls to the Olympics, we have been limited to 5. There goes one more girl's Olympic dream... :(

Triathletes

2010-05-07T23:13:00.001-07:00

Speaking of Kristina Baskett, I ran across a youtube video of her doing a photoshoot for a triathlon magazine! I was immediately interested and inspired by the fact that she had done triathlons and wanted to share the video with you all. :)

I got interested in triathlons when I was just 12 years old. The idea of getting to do three sports in one sounded exciting, plus they were things I was all decently good at. Little did I know how much training, committment and time goes into training for such an event. Even so, at the age of 18 I am still very interested in one day doing a triathlon and am taking babysteps to pursue this endeavour. I have not yet gotten the chance to train or race in one because I am still soley focused on gymnastics training, but I know that once I have completed my time as a gymnast I will have something that's just as challenging, if not more so, to pursue.

Here is also another inspiring montage of an Ironman Triathlete. You can check out her blog at http://fuelyourpassiononline.blogspot.com/

This is the kind of person I strive to be. Someone who is not afraid to do what people say is impossible. A person who does what they love to do and conquor obstacles that seem impossible to overtake. This is the person I am meant to be, each day as a gymnast, and even being human, I am learning this concept. I feel this is a part of my purpose.

More Region 2 Gossip

2010-05-07T22:06:00.000-07:00

As I went in to coach today I started noticing there were a lot of new faces. I mentioned this fact to one of the coaches and in turn she replied, "They're all from PSSG". I didn't understand why there would be a big group of girls who would come from PSSG (Puget Sound School of Gymnastics). And then she told me that PSSG had recently closed down. What the heck?! I have become far too much aware of all of the gymnastics gossip once I entered the coaching realm. Most of the time I don't care to have the information because that just causes more secrets that I have to keep. Fortuantly, this secret has already been open to the public, more or less, due to the fact that there are girls transferring to Grace because of their gym's closure.

Puget Sound School of Gymnastics has been one of the past top gyms in Washington, if not in region 2. It was home to Kristina Baskett; 2000 Olympic trial qualifier and then one of Utah State's top gymnasts. In other words, it was a really good gym with high level coaches and gymnasts. The first owner, Brad, who created PSSG's amazing program sold the gym a few years ago to Linda and Jeff Lutz. Jeff and Linda divorced Jeff moved to Alaska while the program was taken over by Linda Lutz, who was coached by the one and only, Laurie Reid. Laurie Reid is considered a guru in women's gymnastics and judging, she is the owner of my first gym I trained at. There are rumors around that PSSG will be re-taken over by past coaches but at this point in time, the damage has been done and gymnasts from the gym have since moved onto other teams. It's such a sad case because the PSSG is HUGE and it was a gym that once created such outstanding gymnasts.

RIP-PSSG :(

2 more down...

2010-05-06T23:34:00.000-07:00

Everything happens for a reason...Everything happens for a reason.

I came into the gym late to bring ice-cream for my gymnasts ice-cream party I had promised them if they filled up the "ice-cream" poster I had made. They filled it all up a couple of weeks ago and I promised that since my time of coaching would soon be over; the sooner I brought the goodies in, the better.

I was then surprised by the way the optional girls were acting. Minutes later I come to find that Coach Jackie and Brian would be leaving Grace. Coach Carleigh left less than a week ago, I'm leaving this month and now the head optional coaches, who, might I add, have been coaching at Grace for longer than ten years! Brian may be pushing the twenty year mark! And now, *POOF* they're gone. I am literally still in shock from the whole ordeal. I now understand why God had done everything over the coarse of this year. Injuring my wrist, allowing me to make a transition into coaching, giving me time to realize Grace was not the gym to come back to, pushing me toward a gym that would provide me with the coaching I needed and now letting me understand why I had to be pushed away. I stand in the presence of God once again and I feel awestruck; as well as still depressed for all of the high level gymnasts at Grace. Grace is falling apart, just as Gym + had a little over 8 years ago, when Norm and Laurie stepped out of the picture. Grace's top coaches are leaving so many girls to cope and try to re-build their gym. I pray that everything works out, and for me at least, God has delivered. May he deliver for them as well.

Everything happens for a reason...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fikaWkHTpo0

My New Hero

2010-05-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

She's the type of gymnast I strive to be.

A friend to everyone; no matter what level or age they may be.

She is a leader and isn't afraid to play that role in life.

She's full of personality and loves to play and have fun!

She's very confident in herself but she's also just as humble.

She's one of the highest level gymnasts in region II.

She's Baely Rowe!

The first day entering Auburn Gymnastics I realized this was not just a team of gymnasts. Auburn is a team of sisters and friends. They were not what I expected, not what I had heard from everyone. They were quick to welcome me, even though my gymnastics level was nowhere near what most of theirs were. Likewise, the coaches treated me as an equal, more or less. They arn't pushing me as much as some of the other girls, but that doesn't mean that they arn't pushing me and making me a better gymnast. When I first met Baely, she was one of the girls who quickly said hi and introduced herself. I knew of Baely prior to ever seeing her in person. I had heard many things about her; some good and some bad. So far with what I have seen of her, I have nothing to say but good things. She led us through warm up and did it with such a confident attitude I couldn't help but admire her leadership role. She is well aware of the fact that she is a top level 10, and on the verge of elite yet she is respectful to every single person in the gym. There is a difference between arrogance and confidence, and Baely conveys that well to all of her teammates. Her example is not only what one would hope to see in a gymnast, but in a person as well.

There's a harder side to being the top gymnast in a high level gym. She is pushed harder than possibly any gymnast there. I have seen her shed many tears but they are tears of frusteration. The tears that reminded me of a gymnast I used to be. Crying doesn't mean you arn't good enough, arn't strong enough; rather they signify that you care enough about the sport to do the one thing that some people look down on; to give in and cry. And when I came to realize this, my respect for her became even stronger. Thus this is why Baely, even though she's 4 years younger than me; is my hero!

Good Luck at Nationals Rowe!

Not her best routine, but it's from one of her biggest meets and I<3 her floor routine and music!

The Comeback...

2010-05-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of gymnasts who are planning big comebacks; Alicia Sacramone, Shawn Johnson, me...

This is my first real post that is open to the public about my gymnastics, but I'm tired of trying to keep it a secret. My love for the sport shouldn't have to be a secret in the first place.

It's been over 6 months since the day I had decided I needed to take 6 months off for my wrist to completely heal. Naturally, I think I lasted about a month or two before I started some limited gymnastics training. Since that time I have moved onto 2 more gyms. In total, I have trained at over 7 gyms...Only competed for two of them though.

I have almost finally transitioned back from coach to gymnast, for the second time...

I started training at my newest gym nearly 3 weeks ago.

At first I kept questioning whether there was any point in me returning. I have been out of shape for three years, (although I'm in much better shape than I was 1.5 years ago). I felt like I had nothing left to give, that starting over again was the last thing I wanted to do. I was surprised, however, with how quickly my body has come back! 2 weeks ago I did yurchenko tucks on the real vault onto mats for the first time in 2 years!!!! TWO YEARS! That's a LOONNNNGG time in the sport of gymnastics! And yet I managed to get the skill back in what...a week?! On top of that, I have started working backhandspring, back layout step outs for beam. A skill I have not worked, literally, for over 3 years! I am doing blinds again as well. Not only that, but at the gym prior to this one, I made 3 blind, front giants! Likewise, I haven't made that many in one day for 2 or 3 years! How is it that I'm getting all these skills back like this? I believe that,
Number 1. I am a lot stronger.
Number 2. I have patient and supportive coaches...finally!

Due to the fact that Westerns was last weekend and the girls and coaches had headed down to Wes De Moines, Iowa; I had not trained for a week. Thus yesterday started rough. I already felt out of shape again and after only a short while on bars, this was the result:

It looked a lot nastier yesterday. There's still blood splattered all over my grips, it's lovely. By the end of yesterday's practice I was loving the sport all over again! I've started doing open pike (almost layed out) yurchenko drills into the pit, round off-back lay dismounts off beam, back tucks, leaps and turjetes on beam, back and front twisting on floor and still working on getting most all of my skills back on bars.

My progress that has been made so far with as little training as I've done is immense in my opinion. And finally, for the first time in 2 years, I have this summer to train again! (Knock on wood). And let me have you know, this summer is gonna hurt like hell, but hopefully I will be ripped, in shape and ready for a full, injury free season in the sport of gymnastics! :)

I'll keep you posted on what's happening in my gymnastics life.

Pacific Rim Gymnastics

2010-05-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sooooooo, does anyone have the footage from the Pac Rim Gymnastics Champs in Australia this last weekend? I have found some footage on youtube but most of it isn't the greatest. I saw Bridget's bar routine and felt thourougly disappointed for her... We, as humans and gymnasts, need to remember that sometimes things happen. No matter how prepared we are, bad things still occur. Bridget was a reminder for the world that she is human. All elites are, no matter how incredible of athletes they are.

But that look of disappointment on her face says it all...

Meanwhile, my training has been put on hold while the Western and Eastern United States came together to perform on the national stage! Girls all over Washington did awesome! Evanni from my own gym earned 5th place! This is quite an accomplishment and I am super excited for her! Mary, Julia, Bria, and Margaret also all competed and did well! I am sad to say that this will be the last week I will spend with them, not even the whole week. I will be going into the gym Thursday around 6pm to bring ice-cream and treats to the level 4's and then Friday will be my last day coaching. Part of me is sad, but I am also jubilant that I will be free of work and will get to continue to pursue my passion in my own gymnastics world!

Continuing on that note, I will get to start training more. This will be the last easy(ish) week I will probably have for a long time so I am taking advantage of it! Though I am still training more than I had been, I didn't manage to get myself in the gym today. Yesterday, however, I managed to get to Grace and spent 2.5 hours exercising and honestly, I am finally looking and feeling stronger! Tomorrow will be much longer in training than I have done since last Monday. Early morning I have my cycling class, then classes all day long and then 4 hours at gym. That being said, I better head off to bed.

Kayla Williams-Without a Gym

2010-04-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

I first watched Kayla a little less than a year ago at J.O. Nationals as she performed a stunning floor routine. She started with a double layout, moved onto a 2 salto pass of back 1 1/2 twist to a double pike, a frickin triple full for a side pass and ended with an equally difficult full in pike! At the time I knew she was an amazing level 10, but I never thought she would have the opportunity to go elite.

Less than a year later she is thrown into the elite world. In this day in age, a sixteen year old gymnast going elite is unheard of! Apparently, Steve Rybacki was the one who suggested that Martha Karolyi take a look at Williams skills. Otherwise, I doubt Martha Karolyi would ever have taken a gymnast who had already hit sixteen years of age.

Kayla went onto compete at the Covergirl Classic and then at the Visa Championships. Last October Kayla was chosen to compete on the world stage at the second most prestigious event next to the Olympics. She would compete with three other gymnasts from the United States and would become the first ever woman from the U.S.A. to win gold on vault with two sky high, flawless vaults at the World Championships!

Her story is an inspirational one that says, anything is possible!

Today I came across a sad article. After having some controversial issues between Kayla and her coaches, she is now in need of a new gym. She has been looking for gyms in the state of West Virgina where she lives but has been turned down again and again. At this point in time, she is still looking for a gym in West Virgina but she may have to settle at a gym outside of the state. Kayla has not been training for 2 months and if she hopes to be prepared for a national training camp in May, she better get her butt in gear and find a place to get herself back into top shape.

Good Luck to you Kayla! I would love to see you continue in elite gymnastics and eventually college gymnastics so keep your spirits up!

http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=47090.html#world+champ+williams+left+without

2000 Olympic Bronze medalist team is now USA...

2010-04-28T13:03:00.001-07:00

It's official! The Chinese bronze medalists of the 2000 summer games have been stripped of thier bronze medal due to an underaged gymnast. This controversy should've been taken care of 10 years ago instead of now when we are still wondering about the age of the 2008 Chinese gymnasts. I wonder if it's going to take another ten years before any concrete evidence shows up about the 2008 Olympic team. Maybe there weren't any underaged gymnasts from the last games, but now that proof shows up that China was willing to cheat 10 years ago, why would we think that they wouldn't cheat in another Olympic games?

Dong FangXiou is the unlucky victim in this controversy. I loved her gymnastics and wish she didn't have to deal with a crime the government decided to impose on her. She was 14 at the time according to reports found. Here is a look into the life she faced as a gymnast under the Chinese system:

And might I add, she was a PHENOMENAL tumbler!

ACL's

2010-04-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, there seems to be a lot of torn ACLs lately. First Mia Tabbutt's, then Ivana Hong's, and I just read in IGC that Shawn Johnson tore her's skiing?! I pray them all speedy recoveries.

On another note. Region 2 regionals is going on this weekend in Auburn, Wa! Come watch some awesome gymnastics! :)

Sorry this post is so short, but I have to get up early in the morning and that gives me like only 6 hours of sleep.

Night!

"Enlightenment is not for the weak of heart...Enlightenment is for the warrior."
-Ken Thorton

Al Fong and Ivana Hong

2010-03-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is actually old news more or less.

I just recently learned that Ivana tore her ACL. Yikes...Sounds like she has a long road ahead of her. Hasn't most of her life been a long road though? While she was training at GAGE she reported that Al Fong "made" her continue to train on a fractured shin. I've heard many opinions on the aligation and I honestly don't know what to believe. I have heard some claims that Ivana's mom was the main reason Ivana left GAGE. Maybe Fong had asked or "pressured" Ivana to keep training on an injury, but how many other elite coaches have done the same to their gymnasts.

According to Alyssa Beckerman, her coach, Mary Lee Tracy had told her to keep training on a broken wrist to make the 2000 Olympic team. Alyssa was swallowing down tons of painkillers because the pain was so excruciating. At a training camp, the situation became took a horrible turning point. Alyssa knew the painkillers had taken a toll on her body. At one point she went into the bathroom and threw up blood. Most likely from an ulcer caused by the pills. She even says that the coaches didn't believe anything was wrong with her and she literally had to drag someone to the bathroom and show them.

Or how about Vanessa Atler, whose last coach was none other than Valerie Liukin. The same coach Ivana is now training with. After Vanessa's ankle injury she had to take some down time. Because of it, she had gained some weight. When Valerie found out he was furious. Vanessa went into a cycle of gaining and losing weight from an eating disorder. Come 2000 Olympics, Vanessa didn't make the team. She claims that Valerie told her that the reason she had not qualified was because she was "too fat!" I was appalled when I read this. And yet, Ivana moved from Fong to Liukin...

However, I am also reminded that Fong has had two gymnasts from his gym die. Both for seperate reasons, either way, he somehow continues to coach. How can someone still coach after having just ONE gymnast die? How is he able to keep coaching after 2 of his gymnastics have died? To me, that's just nuts! Maybe there's more to the stories I've read and re-told for you. Maybe there are more emotions I am not getting a full picture of. Maybe these stories are just rumors. After all, Terin Humphrey and Courtney McCool both turned out successful in the sport. Either way, Ivana is now under Liukin's eye. And at this point in time, she's got a long way to go to get back to where she left off from...

Grace Level 4's

2010-03-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Level 4, 5 & 6 sectional Championships happened all over the state of Washington. Southern Sectionals was hosted by, none other than: Grace Gymnastics!

Set up on Friday was lovely...Not really... It's not my favorite past time I must admit. The point is, it got done.

Today level 4 Grace girls competed! They all did superb! We had a total of 6 girls make sectional/state team, 1 make 1st alternate, 14 make gold team, and the rest all qualified to silver or bronze state with scores of 31 or higher!

Top 6 who made sectional team(in no particular order):
1. Aluna Cables
2. Jasmine Parker
3. Jaelyn Sloan
4. Amy Eibel
5. Kaitlin King
6. Juliana Redding

Alternate
Emi Maya

I am soo proud of all the girls that competed this weekend so far and wish the level 5's and 6's luck for tomorrow! Onto State Championships!

College Gymnastics: My Opportunity

2010-03-25T22:08:00.001-07:00

I was given a wake up call this morning. And not just a "wake up" call in literal terms but in changing my life. I had an old friend, who at this point will remain unnamed, call me up. She literally told me to get off my butt and do what I need to to follow my dreams. For weeks, maybe months, I have been in misery because I still had unfinished business in the gym. Yet I couldn't train while I was coaching, not really at least. And honestly, I was still just making excuses.

For the last year I have been trying to figure out what I could do to regain my dreams I had left behind. I could not come up with a concrete plan. I wonder if that is why God sent this person to me. It's as though God had a very genuine plan for my life in meeting her that day so many years ago. For awhile, I wondered if things really had not happened as planned, that there was no such thing as destiny. And now, I am once again questioning fate and reality. Was this message an important message that had been thought out before my own birth onto this earth? I will soon find out.

Today I am coming out of retirement.
I know I'm not ready to let go yet.
I have unfinished business.
With that said, I have to also inform you that I am done coaching at this point. As soon as season is done, so is my coaching.
I am returning to my sport.
To go for a dream I had long thought was over.
Starting now.

I am going to try for college again. Not college in general, but college gymnastics. After I talked to my friend and she told me my beam and floor could make the line up for team. Even if the events weren't quite there, she still suggested I go train with the college gym team for the summer. She then told me to talk to my own coach, Brian, and see what he thought about the idea. So I did.

After I had told him the idea. His response was simple. "You need to get stronger, you need to be in the weight room everyday." He told me I had the potential and could get the skills college coaches were looking for, but I had to get in shape first. Everything he said was positive and he seemed to think I had a decent chance as well. For the first time in a long time I had people supporting my dreams. Behind my goals 100%.

I told my friend about the conversation I had just had with Brian. We were both pleased at what Brian had thought. "Let's do it!" She said to me. In a few weeks we will go talk to the college coach. I pray to God that the conversation will go well. Maybe the reason why I have never gotten the nerve up to directly ask the college coach about being on her team is because I was afraid of rejection. I was scared to be turned down. I am still nervous about it, but I know that I'm more prepared for it. There has been a good portion of this year where I gave up on myself. And because of it, I am willing to be told "no", but that doesn't mean I'm gonna give up.

It took a past figure in my life to make me believe in myself again. She seems to have been the only one who hasn't given up on me. The only one who is willing to put herself out to me to help me achieve something worthwhile. I can never tell her how grateful I am that God put her in my life. She helped save my gymnastics as well as my life. For if she had not saved my gymnastics, I would have found no life worth living, I would not be where I am in the world today without her, I would not have accomplished as much as I have without her and there is no way I would have an opportunity like the one placed in front of me today.

Un-scripted

2010-03-25T13:23:00.000-07:00

Unknown Elites

2010-03-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am often bothered by the media. There are so many good elite or level 10 gymnasts that never get any attention for all of the hard work they put into their sport. Within the past years it has been Nastia and Shawn. After about the first few months of hearing about them over and over again, I began to get bored...And then irritated. Now it's Rebecca...Rebbecca...REBECCA! Geez, what a way to put a TON of pressure on a teenager! I do recall the same thing occurred with a young woman named Vanessa Atler. Does anyone else recall this or am I just getting old. I couple of days ago I even came across a facebook link that said, "just showed my daughter Kerri Strug falling on vault in '96 and she had never heard of her." I was apalled! I guess I should remember that the younger generation doesn't know and often has no interest in the "has beens" in gymnastics. That has never been the case for me. I can name the Olympic all-around champ from every year since 1984 til 2008. I can tell you all about Larissa, Nadia, Teodora, Cathy, Mary-Lou, Daniella, Pheobe, Shannon, and many, many more! Yet I was born in the 90's! Not in the 70's or earlier. I guess I am also biased in my desire for the hardworking-underdog to come out on top. That's why I loved Terin Humphrey, Yelena Zamolodchikova , Allana Slater, Anna Pavlova, Simona Amanar, Elise Ray, Samantha Shapiro, Bridget Sloan, on and on the list goes. That's also why I'm not a huge fan of Shannon Miller, Carly Patterson, Shawn Johnson, Dominique Moceanu, Jordan Weber and now Rebecca Bross. I am also a "lover" of artistic gymnastics and not powerful, robotic gymnastics. I am largely, inspired by older gymnasts. Most recently Chari-Knight Hunter, Oksana Chusnovitna, Jessica Lopez and Ariella Kaeslin. All whom are my top inspirations for continuing on at such a high level of gymnastics at an age that is considered by most gymnastics fans, "too old" for gymnastics.

Getting back to my first and more important topic. The unknown gymnasts: Yesterday I ran across a 16 year old elite gymnast I've never heard of before while playing on youtube. I was impressed by her gymnastics, and also sad that I had never heard of her. Her name is Joy Goedkoop and I believe she is from the Netherlands. There is hardly any information on her. Particularly in English, yet she displays good athletism and is another example of a hard working elite who may never get the recognization she deserves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xycs0klppxU

Gym News

2010-03-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

As a gymnastics coach I get introduced to A LOOOOOOTTTT of drama and secrets in the gymnastics world. This blog however is not for gossip, so I can't tell you any of the news I have heard. Not yet anyways.(As badly as I want to) Some may come out eventually when the time is right to let it out in blog form. Most of it will remain secret until I write a memoir under a pen name.

I forgot to mention a couple other gymnasts in my last blog and I can't figure out a way to edit it, (if there is a way). Anyways, Evanni Roberson got 3rd in the AA at state as a first year level 9. She also got 1st on floor!

I also had two friends from my the second gym I trained at both earn 2nd in their age groups with only a .05 tenth between them. Mckenzie Welsh and Kelsey Jaquish from All American will be training hard for regionals in Auburn in a couple of weeks! Good luck! Hopefully I will get to go watch this time!

2010-03-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

I figured I should start my first blog about my current gym I am coaching and training at: GRACE GYMNASTICS CLUB

I began training at Grace in November of 2008.
I have honestly never been to a gym on this side of the state with girls who were as respectful and welcoming as my Grace teammates are. I made friends easily and for the first time in years, I was a part of an optional team! It was honestly a dream-come true for me. Suddenly I could train as much as I wanted, I had teammates who supported me, friends who I will remember the rest of my life. If only all good things lasted...

In early 2009, less than a month before state, I injured my wrist...yet again. Since then I have gotten to learn a new trade. I became the level 4 coach. I enjoy it, but I miss being a gymnast even more.

The team has gone through it's ups and downs. Last year, in June 2009, The Grace Gymnastics team won for both level 8's and the championship team at Y nationals in Pheonixville, Pennsylvania. It was the 9th year in a row that Grace had won the championship team and a new record for any Y team! I'm proud to announce that this shows that for the last 9 years, Grace is the top YMCA gym in the country! I was unfortuantly injured during this win and was eager to get to train for Y-nationals this coming year. Due to rule changes, I am too "old" to compete, which I find discriminating in many ways. I may elaborate on this topic in another post.

For individual awards at Y-Nationals, Mary Jacobsen won the level 8 all-around and Mia Tabbut won the championship division! It was an incredible experience for the girls and coaches. This year we are training for another victory, this time in San Diego, California!

The downs this year are the many injuries that Grace has endured. Late last November Mia Tabbutt tore her ACL. She has chosen to only return to high school gymnastics. She is eager to try out some coaching in the future though so this is a highlight for Grace! Hannah Loveland rolled an ankle early on in the season, and then was sick going into state. She still won her age group with a 37.05 and barely missed making the regional team. She earned 9th place out of the 8 positions. Mckenzie Dagan is dealing with a hip injury, Julia Salazar tore her groin, Ashley Nguyen broke her foot in three places and Elizabeth tore some liagaments in her ankle making this the third year she has not competed a full state meet. :( Prayers for healing and continued determination to continued training for those who still are motivated to do so. Keely Kirkley had an awesome state meet last weekend earning 9.3+ on bars, beam and floor. She also claimed the beam title and placed in the top 20 out of the ENTIRE meet!

Onto regionals and hopefully Western nationals for Grace girls!