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
Thursday, May 6, 2010
My New Hero
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!
Not her best routine, but it's from one of her biggest meets and I<3 her floor routine and music!
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!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Comeback...
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:
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.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Pacific Rim Gymnastics
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.
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.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Kayla Williams-Without a Gym
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
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
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
2000 Olympic Bronze medalist team is now USA...
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!
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!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
ACL's
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
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
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