First Coast gymnasts dream of the Olympics

7:40 PM, Jul 31, 2012   |    comments
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Gyminators Gymnastics is filled with the sounds of budding gymnasts.
    
But owner Paula Falls said since the Olympics started, the phone has been ringing off the hook.

"This is the highest enrollment we've ever had," Falls said.

Falls said kids are being inspired by the Olympic games' athletes.    

"The kids are just really excited to see it," Falls said. "They're coming in and saying, 'did you see Jonathon Horton on the high bar? Did you see - ?' They're naming different gymnasts and different events that they're doing."

Donning USA leotards, five-year-old Kinnley and six-year-old Ma'lai say that's why they're here.

"The first time I watched the Olympics, I was thinking about it because then I told my daddy, if I can do that, because it looks so fun and really cool," Kinnley said. 

Reporter: What'd your dad say?

"My daddy said 'yes,' and then we came here"

"The Olympics is the best thing I really want to do in my dreams," Ma'lai said.

But the pros aren't just sparking interest for new gymnasts. They're also reigniting passion within current ones, like 11-year-old Chelsea Ash.

"When I see the Olympics, it makes me get more inspired when I come back to the gym the next day because it makes me want to do new skills," Ash said.

And like so many others, Ash hopes her new skills will some day land her a spot on Team USA.

First Coast News