Kids flip over Olympic gymnast

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

They've read articles about him, seen him compete for Team USA and this week hundreds of Hawai'i gymnasts got to meet two-time Olympian Blaine Wilson.

Two-time U.S. Olympian Blaine Wilson of Columbus, Ohio, has the rapt attention of young gymnasts at the Hawaiian Island Twisters practice gym in Kane'ohe. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It was pretty cool," said 13-year-old Hawai'i Academy gymnast Emma Ching, who also got to meet three-time Olympic gymnast John Roethlisberger a few years ago. "I've seen them in TV and magazines."

Wilson, 29, will try to become the first U.S. gymnast to qualify for three Olympics since Roethlisberger accomplished the feat in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Wilson was an Olympic team member in 1996 and 2000.

For many of the Hawai'i gymnasts, Wilson was a shining example of what hard work can bring. The Columbus, Ohio, native started gymnastics at age 4, and is the first man in USA Gymnastics history to win five consecutive national titles.

At the Hawai'i Academy in Kalihi, Wilson signed autographs, posed for pictures, and talked about his Olympic career and his recent biceps injury that will keep him from training until mid-April.

Dr. Max Vercruyssen, Hawai'i Academy director, said Wilson's visit inspired many of his gymnasts.

"They work harder after he comes through," Vercruyssen said. "I don't think Blaine gets to see the wave he generates. You see the boys out there now, it's very easy to work with the kids. They're really revved up and enthusiastic."

This week, Wilson provided hope, and a touch of reality for aspiring gymnasts. In a sport that has about 85,000 gymnasts competing in USA Gymnastics — the governing body of gymnastics in the United States — only 12 (6 men and 6 women) qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.

"Not every child makes it to the Olympic Games," Wilson said. "It all depends on the what your child enjoys doing. Are they having fun? Do they get to hang out with their friends? Is their gymnastics career actually helping their school work?"

Most of the parents and gymnasts at the Hawai'i Academy said they have set realistic gymnastic goals, aimed primarily at improving physical fitness and achieving standardized benchmarks.

Nani Vercruyssen, 12, a national champion and member of the U.S. Trampoline Team, said she's not thinking about the Olympics just yet.

"I just want to go as far as I can," said Vercruyssen, daughter of the Hawai'i Academy's director and a sixth-grader at Hokulani Elementary. "I'm not saying it's my major goal. I just want to have fun and do the trampoline."

That's the same attitude that Curtis Ching and wife, Ruth Shimada, take with daughters Emma and Angela, who attend seventh and second grade, respectively, at Iolani School. Both girls began gymnastics about four years ago, their father said.

"They mostly enjoy doing it because it's fun," Curtis Ching said. "We don't have any high-ranging aspirations for them. We just want them to be physically fit and enjoy themselves and enjoy the accomplishment of working hard and reaching a certain result."

Wilson, who tore a tendon in his left biceps at last month's American Cup in New York, is not scheduled to compete at next month's Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships, but said he plans to be ready to qualify for August's Olympic Games.

For now, he has become a valued ambassador for his sport.

"Everybody can throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, throw a football," Wilson said. "But can you do a flip? Can you flip and twist? Can you hold a handstand? Those are the things that are awesome to be able to do. There's a lot of to be said about gymnastics and doing gymnastics."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.