TOPS, HOPES and a Break-through--OH MY!!

Testing out of level 8

Yes, Grace is still excelling at gymnastics!  I think the last time I posted she had a cast on her leg.  It healed perfectly; no lasting problems.  Since then we've hurt a couple of more body parts, but thankfully nothing lasting.  The scariest one was her back.  She over extended on one of her "flippy-do's" ( I really must learn and REMEMBER all of the names of her new skills) and hurt her back.  It turned out to be one of her worst injuries.   We wound up at the orthopedist who put things very clearly:

"Think of a paperclip.  We've all bent one back and forth, back and forth, until it snapped.  Now it could have taken 15 bends but it snapped.  Grace could be on number 12.  If she doesn't slow down and take care and back off on the training... well, then we'll be having a more serious talk."

So, back off we did and now she is back to 100%!

After Grace's wonderful level 7 season she began training hard for her summer TOPs testing.  She tested 3 times and each time made a score high enough to qualify her for National Testing.  So, in October off she went to National Training Center in Texas.  There she just WOWED everyone!!  She did fabulous.  She needed a score of an 81 to make the TOPs National Team.  Grace walked away with a 91!!

TOPS NATIONAL TEAM 

So, in December she went back to Texas as a part of the TOPs National Team.  Unfortunately this was right in the middle of her back injury.  She was only at 1/4 of her abilities but still had a great time.  We are so proud of how she closed the TOPs part of her gymnastics journey.

Grace now is heading into what is termed HOPES.  That is a bridge between TOPs and Elite for 10-12 yr. olds.  Grace is scheduled for 3 National Qualifier meets this year.  If she qualifies she will be able to compete in the US VISA CLASSIC!!

Grace on bars being watched by Valeria Luikin 

This summer Grace was well on her way and had many of the required skills.  Then came a few injuries, falls and eventually fear---for the very first time in her gymnastics career!!  Of course we didn't know about her fear until well after it started.  I knew SOMETHING was wrong but just didn't know exactly what.

It didn't help that Grace is my "keep-everything-close-to-the-vest" kid and never told me anything.  But one day she and I were talking.  And the dam broke.  Everything that Grace had bottled up inside came tumbling out.  The fear of disappointing the people she loved, the fear of hurting herself doing gymnastics and the fear of not having her skills for the National Qualifiers.

It was WONDERFUL but heartbreaking.  I felt guilty that I didn't know how she felt, I felt wonderful that FINALLY Grace was telling me how she felt, I felt sad that she had carried around such a burden and I felt WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW???

Luckily we worked through it together.  We had a meeting with Grace's coach and she also celebrated the break-through!  Grace told us she wasn't sure she wanted to do the National Qualifiers.  She wanted time to think about.  We made a plan and agreed to come back in 2 weeks to discuss how she felt.

In the weeks that followed Grace became more animated, more talkative and lo and behold--got her skills back!!  Today she told her coach that she wanted to meet tomorrow because she had decided to go for the National Qualifier!!!

Grace receiving input from Valerie Luikin 

We aren't sure how she will do but the real victory lies in Grace getting rid of her burden and realizing that we are here to support her in whatever SHE wants to do.  She now talks so much more about the gym.  She will tell me specifics about how her training went instead of just"fine".  She has even called me twice to share some fantastic progress she has made!

This season is going to be so exciting.  Grace has already tested out of level 8 and will compete level 9 as well as the HOPES qualifier meets.  No matter what happens score wise, Grace has accomplished so much!  

Check back to see what happens.  Her first level 9 meet is on January 21st and her first HOPES qualifier is on February 10th in Orange, California.  

A new journey awaits and Grace is ready to jump in knowing that she has the support and encouragement, not pressure, of the people who love her the most!