Gymnasts' dreams don't come cheap in Hawai'i
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Mychele Tacadena of 'Ewa coaches her daughter, Tori, 9, at What's Up Gymnastics! in Waipi'o.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Quick facts WHAT: 2004 Pacific Alliance Championships. WHO: Features leading male and female gymnasts from America and around the Pacific Rim — including candidates for Team USA and other Olympic teams going to the 2004 Summer Games. WHEN: Thursday through Saturday. WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center TICKETS: All-session tickets from $30-$75 and individual seats from $5-$15. Sold at all University of Hawai'i ticket outlets, including the Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, the Campus Center, Rainbowtique at Ward Centre, and the OCET Office at Windward Community College; by phone at 944-2697; or online at etickethawaii.com and local gymnastics clubs listed at usa-gymnastics.org. |
Until then, she'll continue to invest a small fortune on the sport practiced by more than 2,000 people in Hawai'i.
"Financially, it can be something you need to prepare for," said Tacadena, a childcare provider who is married and lives in 'Ewa, and spends about $3,000 to $4,000 annually on gymnastics for her two daughters, Rychele, 11, and Tori, 9. "It's a very costly sport."
In Hawai'i, families of competitive gymnasts often pay thousands of dollars a year on lessons, equipment and attire, and travel for off-island competitions. Gymnastic lessons can cost up to $100 a month depending on the level of the gymnast and the frequency of practices.
What they get in return, enthusiasts say, are athletic development, scholarships and career opportunities — plus the promise of stardom as Olympians. Gymnasts have also become cheerleaders, Olympic platform and springboard divers and movie stars.
This week, Hawai'i gymnasts will see some of the best in their sport when the state hosts the Pacific Alliance Championships Thursday through Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The NBC-televised competition is expected to draw nearly 400 representatives, including 225 Olympic hopefuls from more than a dozen countries.
Around the state, more than 2,000 gymnasts from 15 clubs compete in a sport that a few high schools support. On O'ahu, only Kamehameha, Punahou and the Pac-Five schools compete in gymnastics.
So advanced gymnasts must seek competition on the Mainland, which adds to their expenses. Most hold fund-raisers to defray costs.
"My largest hope is that (gymnastics) will get them a scholarship in a competitive college," said Tacadena, whose daughters practice at What's Up Gymnastics! in Waipi'o.
"If nothing else, they can always fall on this as a part-time job while they get themselves to college. You can become a coach once you get the safety certification."
In addition to gymnastics, Tacadena's daughters also take piano, swim and dance classes. Tacadena said she uses gymnastics as an incentive to get her daughters to complete their schoolwork and participate in other activities.
"Gymnastics is something they really want to do," Tacadena said. "So they need to learn to balance all that. If one is not in sync, they're not allowed to do gymnastics, and this is what they adore."
Tacadena's daughters practice four hours a day, four times a week. Both daughters are straight-A students at 'Ewa Elementary School, Tacadena said.
"A lot of times my children are doing their schoolwork in the car en route to the gym and vice versa," Tacadena said. "If they're not done, they're doing schoolwork en route from the gym to the house with the car light on, so they can have supper at a half-decent hour."
Third-grader Tori Tacadena, who started gymnastics when she was six, said she enjoys the sport.
"I like it because it's fun, and I get stronger," Tori said. "It gives me something to do after school, instead of just laying around and watching TV."
Tori's older sister, Rychele, who attends sixth grade, agreed. "It's fun, but scary at the same time," said Rychele, who wants to become an elite gymnast. "The scary thing is having to do the elements and competing and performing in front of a crowd. The fun thing is you get to do what you like to do."
Dan Misener — owner of What's Up Gymnastics! — estimated that 3 percent to 5 percent of gymnasts earn college scholarships.
"But if they use their gymnastics ability in a different sport, like cheerleading, the percentage goes up probably to 50 or 60 percent," Misener said. "Getting a scholarship in gymnastics is very hard. Getting a scholarship in cheerleading is a lot easier."
Misener said gymnastics teaches coordination, and can lead to interesting career opportunities.
"You can even get into a movie career with it," Misener said. "Jackie Chan was a gymnast. If you watch a lot of his moves, many are gymnastics-oriented."
Two-time Olympian Blaine Wilson said the odds of a gymnast becoming an Olympian are very low, but he said it doesn't hurt to try.
About 85,000 gymnasts compete in USA Gymnastics — the governing body of gymnastics in the United States — but only 12 (6 men and 6 women) qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.
"If that's your goal, and you don't make it, give it a try again," Wilson said. "Just because you don't make it, doesn't mean that you're a failure."
Mike and Cindy Christian, of Schofield, said they spend about $200 a month on gymnastics for their daughters, Madison, 9, and Caroline, 4, who attend Hale Kula School. Their children practice two to three times a week from 4 to 8 p.m. at What's Up Gymnastics!
"Sometimes you don't really call it a sacrifice, you just call it being a good parent," said Army Lt. Col. Mike Christian.
"If they enjoy it, and they want to do it, you sacrifice more. In the grand scheme of things, it's not expensive as baseball or football. You look at it as an investment ... to your kids, both in time and in resources."
Cindy Christian, a kindergarten teacher at Hale Kula School, said gymnastics "sets the foundation for all other sports" for her daughters.
"It teaches them skills that will last a lifetime," she said.
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
