Dedication is a must for young gymnasts
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kris Welch did something unexpected for a 10-year-old, something that made his mom cry.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
After waiting two months for a pair of Heelys, Welch put the box of shoes on the shelf. He chose to recover from a strained leg sustained in gymnastics than risk hurting himself again. It was this decision that brought tears to his mother's eyes.
Richard Bogg, right, keeps an eye on Auriel Rickard during the 2002 USA Region I Boys Gymnastics Championships.
"He really has a goal," said his mother, Kim. "He wants to go to the Olympics."
That kind of commitment and focus, especially at this age, are the makings of a champion. And Kris, who put on his Heelys for the first time in two weeks yesterday, has moved one step closer to his goal.
The fourth grader at Red Hill Elementary School won the gold medal in the all-around in his class (age 10-11) yesterday at the 2002 USA Region I Boys Gymnastics Championships at the Blaisdell Arena, which featured more than 900 competitors from California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawai'i. The meet drew more than 6,000 spectators.
His win came as no surprise to his coaches, as Kris is also the reigning Hawai'i state champion in his division.
"He's self-motivated," said Hawaiian Island Twisters coach Gabe Irono. "Every event, every move he does, he's very focused. He won't give up."
Somehow, between playing PlayStation 2 and maintaining straight A's in school, Kris manages to practice for three hours four days a week. He doesn't have time to play football, the only other sport Kris had wanted to play.
"My parents said I'd have to give up gymnastics," Kris said matter-of-factly. "And I didn't want to do that."
Dedication seems to be the common factor among gymnasts, who often sacrifice free time after school and on weekends to practice.
And even with men's programs across the country folding — partly because of Title IX, the federal law that mandates equal opportunities for women to participate in sports — the interest among boys in gymnastics, especially at the beginning level, has been unaffected.
With the limited opportunities for boys to compete in college, it makes the competition for slots on national teams that much more intense.
According to a 2001 participation survey by the National Federal of State High School Associations, only 15 states have high school level boys programs with 2,542 participants. (Hawai'i doesn't offer boys high school gymnastics anymore.) By contrast, more than 20,000 girls participate in gymnastics in 1,529 high schools in 32 states.
Coaches say getting boys to participate in gymnastics isn't as difficult as keeping them in the program, especially in Hawai'i.
"The hardest part is keeping them in a gym instead of going outdoors," said Kalani Pa, who started the boys program at Aloha Gymnastics World seven years ago. "They can surf or play soccer. Keeping them indoors is very challenging."
There are three schools in Hawai'i — Aloha Gymnastics World, Hawaiian Island Twisters and the Hawai'i Academy — that have programs for boys. At the regional championship yesterday, about 50 of the competitors were from Hawai'i.
With more opportunities for boys to compete on the Mainland, the gymnasts from other states tend to be more hardcore, Pa said.
"Kids here tend to be more laid back," he said. "It's how we're raised. It takes a lot to get a fire burning under their butts."
And with a lack of competition in the Islands, coaches find it difficult to keep the kids motivated to continually improve.
"As coaches, we know what's expected of them," Pa said. "We can tell them 'til we're blue in the face. Until they see what a 9.8 routine looks like, they don't understand it's possible. It's a great motivator after regionals."
But seeing their Mainland counterparts can be intimidating for local gymnasts.
Jonathan Wakida said he remembers attending his first regional meet and being amazed at the level of competition. But he said it gave him incentive to train harder and get better.
On Friday, the 15-year-old sophomore at Pearl City High School earned second place on the rings in his class (age 12 and above) with a score of 8.5.
Like other gymnasts, Wakida got into the sport at a young age. But he stuck with it because he thought it was fun.
"It keeps me in shape," he said, "and it's fun tumbling and flying through the air."
With practice five days a week, including Saturdays, Wakida doesn't have much time to pursue any other interests. He gave up marching band this year because it interfered with his gymnastics. And he hasn't played pool in months.
"I do it for the fun of competing," said Wakida, who manages to find time to hang out at the mall and watch movies with his girlfriend. "It's nice to go to nationals, but that's not why I do it."
There's something about gymnastics that's unlike any other sport, athletes and coaches say. Something about perfecting tumbling passes on the mats or nailing dismounts off the parallel bars or mastering the rings. Something about competing against yourself, for yourself.
"It's just that it's a true sport, it's not a game," said James Figueira,a veteran gymnastics coach for Hawaiian Island Twisters. "It's completely about your performance. It's you versus you. It's not about scores; it's about your mental focus. Are you going to give 100 percent to this, for yourself? Because once you get on the floor or up on the equipment, there's no one but yourself."
To excel in gymnastics, you have to be self-motivated. Anyone can learn to hold onto the high bar or do flips on the mat, coaches say. It's that mental toughness that allows gymnasts to take their physical ability to the next level.
But the bottom line is the kids have to have fun. That's the only way to keep them coming back.
"They spend so much time in the gym," Figueira said with a smile, "they'd better be having fun."
