Local Gymnasts Have Olympic Dreams
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: August 8, 2012
Strength and balance were two key elements for girls training at Texas Elite Gymnastics Academy, TEGA, on Wednesday.
"Training is hard, but it gets you stronger and it's easier for you to be able to do things when you do strength and stuff like that," said Bailee Broadus, one of the gymnasts who trains at TEGA.
Owner Michelle Dow says the Olympics not only fuels those she already works with, but she's gotten an increase in calls to enroll new gymnasts since the 2012 Games began.
"They make it look so easy and everyone gets excited about it, so we love it," said Dow.
The girls on the team practicing Wednesday spend between 9 and 12 hours each week. They train to compete across the state and eventually out of state. Dreams for both coach and athlete reach beyond their home gym.
"I want to grow up and be just like them," said Broadus of the current Olympic gold gymnasts.
"The routines that they're doing are the exact routines that current Olympians did when they were these girls ages, so it's really fun when they show the shots of them when they were little doing there stuff because it kind of puts it in perspective for them," said Dow. When gymnasts compete at certain levels, they all do the same routines with the same elements.
After winning team gold, and 4 individual medals, the women of Team USA Gymnastics are the new superstars.
Both Broadus and Jilayne Headrick look up to two members of this year's team: Gabby Douglas and Jordyn Wieber.
During a break from practice, they shared how they are already thinking like champions.
"Never give up, keep on going and get the gold," said Headrick.
"Training is hard, but it gets you stronger and it's easier for you to be able to do things when you do strength and stuff like that," said Bailee Broadus, one of the gymnasts who trains at TEGA.
Owner Michelle Dow says the Olympics not only fuels those she already works with, but she's gotten an increase in calls to enroll new gymnasts since the 2012 Games began.
"They make it look so easy and everyone gets excited about it, so we love it," said Dow.
The girls on the team practicing Wednesday spend between 9 and 12 hours each week. They train to compete across the state and eventually out of state. Dreams for both coach and athlete reach beyond their home gym.
"I want to grow up and be just like them," said Broadus of the current Olympic gold gymnasts.
"The routines that they're doing are the exact routines that current Olympians did when they were these girls ages, so it's really fun when they show the shots of them when they were little doing there stuff because it kind of puts it in perspective for them," said Dow. When gymnasts compete at certain levels, they all do the same routines with the same elements.
After winning team gold, and 4 individual medals, the women of Team USA Gymnastics are the new superstars.
Both Broadus and Jilayne Headrick look up to two members of this year's team: Gabby Douglas and Jordyn Wieber.
During a break from practice, they shared how they are already thinking like champions.
"Never give up, keep on going and get the gold," said Headrick.
