If parents are looking for a sport that will
strengthen their child’s balance, develop precision in body movement and bolster
mental toughness, then they should look no further than gymnastics. This
centuries-old sport puts the flexibility of the human body to test in an
elegant show of balance, coordination and agility. —
Not quite sure your five-year-old is up to the
task? Don’t worry. Gymnastic classes are offered in all skill levels in gyms
across the city. Instructors teach basic movements for young children and
beginners, then up the difficulty and intensity as a child gets older.
To further convince you of how fantastic
gymnastics can be, we spoke with two young New York City gymnasts about their
love and dedication to the sport.
Melody Salerno, 16, NYC Elite
How long
have you been involved with gymnastics?
I’ve been doing it since I was seven and I am
now 16, so nine years.
Was signing
up for gymnastics classes your own decision or your parents?
Both. I tried out many different sports and then
I found gymnastics and realized I loved it. I was only two weeks into the
recreational classes when they asked me to join the pre-team.
The
pre-team in gymnastics is for the serious competitors. Recreational programs
typically only meet about once a week. What kind of time commitment is required
for competitive gymnastics?
It’s very time consuming. I have a four-hour
workout five days a week. Balancing that with school is challenging but also
doable. It teaches me time management, and turns out to be positive in the long
run.
Does that
kind of commitment ever get overwhelming?
[At] the beginning of each school year I would
question whether I wanted to stay with it. I’ve come very close to quitting but
I have coaches [that] support me. My coach has definitely kept me in the sport
and helped me to love it as much as I do now.
How
competitive is team gymnastics?
It’s definitely very stressful at times but I
think it’s a good kind of stressful. You learn to cope with the kind of
pressure you are put under and you always have your teammates alongside you.
What is
your favorite event?
Beams, even though everyone tells me how scary
beams must be. It’s the event you need to use your mind the most. You need to
be focused and mentally strong and that is one of my strengths.
What do
you think it takes to be a competitive gymnast?
Lots of time management but mostly dedication.
If you are really interested and passionate about the sport, the talent comes
with it. It’s really about being into it and loving the sport. That’s what is
going to keep you going and help you be successful.
What has
been your proudest achievement in the sport so far?
I won First Place for fifteen-year-old Regional
Champions. That was really exciting because last year I didn’t even qualify for
Regionals. This year, I qualified and not only qualified but also won the meet.
I was very happy about that.
Would you
recommend that more kids get involved in gymnastics?
Absolutely. I really think it was a good choice.
I have learned so much. To be dedicated to something like this will carry me
very far in life.
For more
information, visit nycelite.com.
Luca
Ricciardi, 13, Chelsea Piers
How long
have you been involved with gymnastics and how many days a week do you
typically practice?
I have been involved for about six years. I
practice four days a week for about three and a half hours.
That is a
lot of practice time. Do you ever want to not attend a practice?
Sometimes when I’m tired but most of the time I
want to go.
How does
all that practice affect your schoolwork?
Sometimes I have to leave practice early but
it’s manageable.
How different
is team gymnastics from other team sports?
It’s different from other sports like football
or soccer because it’s more individual work.
What is
your favorite event?
High bar. I like the kind of gymnastics you do
on the high bar like the giant and dismounts.
What has
been your greatest achievement in the sport so far?
I was the 2011 State Champion in level seven.
What would
you say to a kid interested in gymnastics who thinks the sport might be too
difficult or challenging?
It’s a hard sport, it takes a lot of time and
dedication. So, I would say that you should never give up and keep trying.
What are
your future goals in gymnastics?
I don’t really want to go to the Olympics.
Overall, I want to get better. Right now, I’m not that strong and that is a
really important thing in gymnastics. So, to get strong would help a lot.
For more
information, visit chelseapiers.com.
Where To Learn And Practice Gymnastics
74th St. MAGIC
510 East 74th Street, 212-737-2989
74magic.com
92nd
Street Y
1395
Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500
92y.org
ABC Gym Kids
St. Veronica’s Church
149-155
Christopher Street, 347-622-1009
nycgymkids.com
Asphalt Green
555
East 90th Street, 212-369-8890
asphaltgreen.org
Chelsea Piers
23rd Street & the Hudson River, 212-336-6666
chelseapiers.com
Columbus Gym
606
Columbus Avenue, 212-721-0090
columbusgymnyc.com
Gymboree
Play & Music
Multiple locations in Manhattan, 877-496-5327
gymboreeclasses.com
Gymtime
Rhythm & Glues
1520
York Avenue, 212-861-7732
gymtime.net
JCC in Manhattan
334 Amsterdam Avenue, 646-505-4444
jccmanhattan.org
Jodi’s Gym
244 East 84th Street, 212-772-7633
jodisgym.com
Kidville
Multiple locations in Manhattan, 212-772-8435
kidville.com
My Gym
250 East 60th Street, 212-421-9496
22 West 66th Street, 212-724-3400
my-gym.com
NYC Elite
100 Avenue of the Americas, 212-334-3628
421 East 91st Street, 212-289-8737
nycelite.com
NY Kids
Club
Multiple locations in Manhattan, 347-706-4700
nykidsclub.com
Sokol NY
420
East 71st Street, 212-861-8206
sokolnewyork.org
YMCA
Multiple
locations in Manhattan, 212-630-9600
ymcanyc.org
