Welcome Team Gym! Viking’s newest gymnastics opportunity unites gymnasts with and without special abilities to attend competitions where they will be judged as a group rather than as individuals. Team Gym falls under the USAGymnastics umbrella of Gymnastics For All, which is one of the 8 disciplines of competitive gymnastics. There are 10 levels competing routines on Floor, Vault, and Trampoline, where each gymnast must perform within the same skill level as the rest of their team. When the music plays, the gymnasts’ energy increases and the event becomes equally enjoyable for everyone watching!
Here’s what Coach Grace has to say about her experience in joining the team:
“As someone who is normally a coach at Viking, participating in Team Gym as a gymnast has been really fun for me because I’ve been able to practice alongside some of the Rising Stars team and help guide them through certain exercises and routines.
It’s been really special getting to hang out and have fun with the gymnasts, whether it’s stretching together or goofing around in front of the mirrors. We all have a really great time together constructing routines and growing as a team. One thing we’ve been working on is jumping off of springboards onto a vaulting mat, and getting off quick so that we can all go one after the other in preparation for our trampoline routine. We’ve also been working on our floor routines. The one that I am working on is Disney themed and we get to do fun dance elements and poses like scooting around in a circle, shooting a bow and arrow, and sitting like mermaids.
My favorite part of our Team Gym practices are at the end where we all have a few minutes to tumble diagonally. Although it’s always fun to tumble, this time is super special and exhilarating because we get to cheer each other on while playing upbeat and energizing music. Everyone has a lot of fun, and sometimes we get to see new skills that the gymnasts have been working on.
Eventually we’ll get to perform in Springfield in front of a large crowd, and I can’t wait to see everything that we’ll be able to accomplish and put together by the time June rolls around!”
The National Competition is set for June 24th – 26th in Springfield, Illinois. Since many won’t be able to come and support our team, we would like to invite all to come and watch and cheer for our teams before they leave for Nationals. We will be having a send off performance on June 11th at Viking Gymnastics beginning at 2:30. Please come and enjoy a heart warming show that you’ll never forget!
