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Shameless self-indulgence follows. At my daughter's last gymnastics meet, a professional photographer took pics and now has the proofs posted online.
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I don't know. I just thought that most olympic girl gymnasts were kids, basically, and summer 2016 is over 9 years away. But I don't really know anything, so take that with a grain of salt.
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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She's a level 4 in USA compulsory levels, and a Level 1 in prep-optionals. Right now is prep-optional season. She is nine years old.
Olympics are way out of our league. The ones that make Olympic teams (and even, these days, college teams) are the ones that are home schooled so they can practice more than five hours a day, five or six days a week. That's not the type of life we want our daughter to have.
Instead we are here to have fun, participate in an activity that keeps her in shape, builds self-confidence and self-discipline and allows us to travel and compete in a relaxed, fun-filled format. Gymnastic competitions at our level, at least, are fun, not stressful. In fact, at this competition, while the judges got ready for awards, all the athletes and coaches got on the floor and danced the Cha-Cha slide.
We have made the greatest friends, she and the girls on her team are very close and so supportive of each other. When one of the girls made a 10 on the vault, they all clapped and yelled and supported her so much an outsider who didn't know wouldn't have been able to tell which girl got the 10. They were all so proud of her and happy for her.
I would definitely recommend gymnastics as an activity for parents looking for something for their kids to do. Boys and girls. The only downside is the risk of injury and it's not really that bad...if they have good coaches with good spotting techniques the risk is low. Well, the other downside is money, but fortunately we have opportunities for fund-raisers to help offset the cost. See that pretty leotard she's wearing? Yeah, it's ridiculously expensive. The good news is that we sell our used ones at the end of the year to people on the team who are a smaller size, and if you can sell yours and buy one from another team member you can break even. Plus my parents help "sponsor" her to pay for some of the competition fees.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Yeah, I've found that leotards and unitards sell ridiculously well on ebay. Probably because, when I look into their original value, they are ridiculously expensive. (I pick them up for a dollar or two at the local thrift store.) I'm glad your daughter's team has a system in place to help parents break even on those, as you say. And that you have so much fun with it. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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kq, a good, quality leotard will easily be $40 new. Easily. Some are much more than that.
And, yet, it's nearly impossible to get by with cheap leotards, not for the type of punishment a gymnast will put one through. I used to buy a bunch of used ones from Ebay, but when there was so much trouble with accounts getting hacked a few months ago, I quit Ebaying altogether.
Now, I buy practice leos from team members whose kids have outgrown theirs and I sell mine to younger team members.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Yep, I've heard as much. And seen. And having made ballet costumes for pro and semi-pro troupes, I can say that while quality construction does take a little more time, I'm not sure they should cost as much as they do; they cost that much because there's a demand for it, KWIM? As you say, you HAVE to buy the quality ones, because they are the only ones that are worth it.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Wow. She just looks like what I always picture the ultimate gymnast should look like - both skilled and happy to be competing. She looks poised, but not like she was coached to be. I'm not explaining myself well, but she looks so much happier and healthier than the gymnasts I remember from when I was that age (my cheerleading squad shared space with gymnasts). And devastatingly pretty!
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Wow! She is indeed talented, focused, and obviously enjoying herself greatly! It sounds like you are, too, Belle! Way to go! *smile*
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Thanks for sharing Belle! I love to hear about the Hatrack kids. I'm glad that she's doing so well with her gymnastics. It seems to be so positive for her and for you. Way to go, Emily!
Posts: 340 | Registered: Mar 2003
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