International Gymnast - December 2007

Even Jordyn gets

the jitters!

A

Jordyn Wieber

Kathryn Geddert

John Twistars USA

GY

Regionals ’07 By Krista Ganim

THERE is nothing I love more than gymnastics. I practice at the Lakewood Trumbull YMCA in Connecticut. I have so much fun with my teammates and coaches.

Don’t get me wrong; it’s not all fun and games. There is a lot of hard work, but the rewards are definitely worth it. I practice three days a week, 21⁄2 hours a day. In each practice, we usually do two of the four events, plus conditioning.

The morning after practices I am so sore I can barely get out of bed. Still, I love the sport so much. It makes me feel like there is reason for all my hard work.

Most of the time I cannot go out with my friends on Friday nights. Or sometimes I will be up until 11 o’clock doing my homework, because I had gymnastics. But I am willing to make these sacrifices.

Sometimes I set a goal and work toward it for the meets, such as the 2007 YMCA Regional Championships in Glens Falls, N.Y. I was in Level 4 and was as excited as a puppy when you give it a treat. And this meet was definitely a treat!

When we arrived at the meet, my mouth dropped. The gym was enormous! “All gymnasts to the floor to stretch, please,” announced a voice on the intercom.

“That’s your cue,” said my mom. “Good luck and just do what you’ve practiced. You’ve done the routines a million times.”

That was true. I did dance around the kitchen doing my routines instead of my homework all the time!

Our first event was bars, my favorite. I was so nervous it felt as if someone had punched me in the gut! When it was my turn I saluted the judge. Glide, stand, pullover, front hip circle. Before I knew it, I stuck the dismount and saluted. “Yes,” I said to myself in relief.

My teammates screamed, “ 9.575! Great job!”

Beam was next and the butterflies returned to my stomach. A week earlier I ha d fallen on a leap and hurt my big toe, and it wasn’t fully healed. I figured I needed to give it my best shot. Surprisingly, I got a 9. 5. Everyone was cheering for me, and I was so happy. Floor was next and I got a

9. 3, which is still a great score.

Vault was last, and it’s the event I have trouble with. I ran down the runway as if a burglar was chasing me, and vaulted for my life. I got rewarded with a 9. 4, my best vault score all season! I was so happy I think the tips of my smile hit my ears!

I was in Level 4 and was as

excited as a puppy when you give it a treat. And this meet

was definitely a treat!

When the awards began, vault was first. “Age 11, first place champion, Krista Ganim,” said the announcer. I felt so special when they handed me the medal. I also won first place on bars and beam. I stood on the podium tall and proud. On floor I placed fourth.

The all-around was the most important. When they got to my age group, my heart was pounding as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. When they called first place, it was not my name. When they called second place, it was my name! I was about to burst with excitement. All that hard work had paid off.

As you can see, if you practice hard, you can achieve anything. I have only been doing gymnastics for three years, but it has made me focused, motivated and it taught me not to hold back. In every task I do, I work my hardest and show off what I can do!