Gymnastics


 o   \ o /  _ o         __|    \ /     |__        o _  \ o /   o   
/|\    |     /\   ___\o   \o    |    o/    o/__   /\     |    /|\  
/ \   / \   | \  /)  |    ( \  /o\  / )    |  (\  / |   / \   / \

Page Toppers

Giant Leap
Gymnastics Champions...Built by gravity and guts
Gymnasts are better balanced!
Gymnastics make me flip.
Hang Time (high bar or rings)
He/She Flies Through the Air With The Greatest of Ease
Lord of the Rings
No fear - No gravity
Nothing But Air
One Giant Leap for Mankind (vault)
Perfect Balance
Ride 'em Cowboy (pommel horse)
Up in the Air
Zero Gravity

See Sports and Team Sports for coaches, fans and sports in general.

Page Idea

When my son was in gymnastics I took about 25 pictures with auto wind on my camera of his floor exercise routine. I picked out pictures of each of the moves and cut them into circles, cropped a small oval "bite" into each one and mounted them in a large "S" curve down the page so each one almost touched the next one, and it looked like a stop-action video of the routine.

The Gymnast

(Ginnie Kimbell)

A gymnast is proud, a gymnast is strong
A gymnast is eager and ready to perform.
A gymnast is dedicated and goes to extreme,
Constantly attempting to fulfill a dream.

Extending his energy, keeping the vault in sight
Anticipating good form, straight legs and good height.
A gymnast will sit, twist, and swing on the bars
With eyes focused on him, this is his moment to be the star.

Approaching the floor with sure footed feet
A gymnast is unwilling to go down in defeat.
Being sure to stay in the allotted space,
Performing the floor routine with strength and grace.

A gymnast is determined to put forth his best
Expecting his endeavors to out score the rest
The gymnast is proud, but tired and beat,
It was his pleasure to to have been in the meet.

The Gymnast Creed

Patience is man's greatest virtue
Or so the saying goes,
A gymnast must have said it
For a gymnast surely knows,
That in this funny sport of ours
Discouragement runs high;
And at times the best will find
This virtue has passed us by.

When hands are ripped and throbbing,
When every muscles is sore,
Can a gymnast still have patience
To go back in for more?
When you've lost old moves you used in days
and progress seems so slow,
Can you still have faith in better days
And not feel sad and low?

Can you admit you're frightened,
Yet not give in to fear?
Can you conquer pain, frustration,
And often even tears?
When someone else does something
That you've tried so long to do;
Can you really feel glad for them
Or just pity for you?

And when success seems far away
You efforts all in vain,
Can you force yourself to wear a smile
And disregard the pain?
If, despite the tribulations
You can say, "I won't give in!"
Maybe some day you'll discover
That it's now your time to win!