An Olympic gymnast????

Today Grace was evaluated at the gym where she has just begun taking classes. Her new coach, after 2 classes, referred her to the developmental team director. What does that mean? It means that our sweet Grace is a natural gymnast!

The reason why we moved over to the gym rather than continue with the tumbling classes at the dance center, is because I was told by her teachers that Grace needed more than they could give! They felt she had great potential and needed to go to a gym to develop her talents. I'm glad I listened to their advice!

After the evaluation, the director told me that she recognized Grace's potential. However, Grace did not have the immediate skills needed to move right into the "preteam" class. What she is lacking is: upper body strength and knowledge of the technical gymnastics terms. When I told the director that Grace has had only 1 year of tumbling and 3 classes of gymnastics she told me that they were very interested in having Grace train with them to become a competetive gymnast---in the USAG level gymnastics!!!!

Once again I hear you say, "so, what does that mean?" Well the USAG stands for United States of America Gymnasts--yes, where they choose their olympians from!!!!!

The director told me that it is her job to identify young girls that have the potential to become competitive gymnasts and she feels that Grace has that potential. Grace was evaluated on her body type, her strength and her flexibility.

What we decided is that Grace will participate in a class that will prepare her for "preteam", which is the level right before the competition level. They want to build Grace's upper body strength and teach her the technical terms of the sport!

Once Grace moves into the competitive level (USAG) then she is on track with other girls training to be olympians! Grace's coach is so excited for her. She told me that at the first class with Grace she was intrigued and the second class convinced her that Grace had talent and she knew that she had to refer her to the developmental director! And the director agrees....Grace has great potential!!!

Unfortunately this means that Grace will not be doing any dance performances with the dance company. We've had to choose and Grace wants to focus on gymnastics. But, she does want to continue with her tap class and we are considering it. My concern is that she is only 7 and once she is put into the preteam class she will need to be at the gym 6 hours a week---that's an awful lot for a second grader.

Who knows, in the 2017 Olympics you may see Grace Feizhen Evans, from Georgia, adopted from Wenzhou China, representing the USA in the summer olympics!