TOPS-Elite Camp

Team photo

S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G

S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G

Gustavo, our host





Mihai Brestyan, Alicia Sacramone's Coach

Liang Chow, Shawn Johnson's Coach



What a great experience! Grace spent the weekend in Virginia Beach at camp (click here for additional photos). She was invited to the TOPs-Elite Camp with the National Team training coaches. The schedule was grueling: 8:00-11:30 & 4:00-7:30 every day. The girls rotated between bars, floor, beam, vault, trampoline, dance, science(mental toughness), and stretching. Grace loved every minute of it!!

The girls were trained by some of the best coaches in the US. On vault, Liang Chow, Shawn Johnson's coach, worked with the girls. He seemed to be the most gentle and jovial man. The girls loved him and named him as their favorite! Then on floor, there was Mihai Brestyan, Alicia Sacramone's Coach. The girls enjoyed working with him also! On beam was Tammy Biggs, who was one of the coaches for the 1996 Olympic team.

Grace was nervous the first morning but that feeling was soon replaced with excitement. The atmosphere that was created was so safe and encouraging. Grace completed several skills that she never attempted before (on the floor: round-off whip, round off back tuck, round off lay-out, front tuck, and back handspring X2. on the beam: back handspring- step-out- back handspring two feet, back tuck and round-off back handspring. on the bars: toe-circle and front giant). She was so proud of her abilities (as was I!!)

Additionally, the girls worked with the National Team's sports psychologist, Dr. Alison Arnold. The parents were also treated to a session with her. She was so fantastic! She helped the girls understand the power of positive thinking. She gave them some skills to use when they feel stressed or negative. The parents were given suggestions on how to encourage their daughter while not adding to the anxiety. We now talk about Grace's "evil twin" Marsh who tries to get her to think that she might get hurt or about her "monkey mind" that is not focused! What great skills and strategies we now have!

We didn't get to do too many free activities but did get to beach for a little bit and also the girls got to swim. But, mostly it was about the gym and building friendships between each other. Us Moms even got to know each other alittle better!

Overall, it was fantastic and well worth the money that was spent. Grace wanted to stay and train at the gym and just cannot wait to go back next year! I guess we better start saving now....