Local girl competes in national gymnastics event
By LAURI ZACHRY

Leader Staff

Instead of waiting on pins and needles this week, Round Rock student and gymnast Katy Eliasen will wait actively on a balance beam or to find out if she made the prestigious A or B team after competing in the Talented Opportunity Program National Testing last weekend. The competition took place in Houston at the Women’s National Team Training Center at the Bela Karolyi Gymnastics Camp.

Katy, who trains at Platinum Gymnastics Academy in Round Rock, qualified previously for the 2007 USA Gymnastics National TOPs Testing for female gymnasts ages 7-11 and their coaches.

During the summer, gymnasts are evaluated on physical abilities at the state or regional level. From the more than 2,400 participants, in the National TOPs testing, approximately 60 gymnasts will make up the TOPs National Team, said Platimun Gymnastics Academy director and owner Chris Conner.

“We select the kids at a young age and look for their talent, flexibility and coordination and especially that mindset to grow in their sport,” Conner said. “Our first priority is for these students to get college scholarships and then compete on a junior or senior international team if they would like. The goal is for them not burn out on the sport, but to have fun with the activities inside and outside the gym.”

Katie is a third-grade student at Star Charter School, which allows for her more rigorous schedule in competing in gymnastics. Her day begins with school from 8 a.m. to noon with time from 1 to 2 p.m. to work on homework before she travels to the gymnastics academy for training from 3 to 7 p.m. For two days a week, Katy trains at the gym from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and trains on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Katy began participating in gymnastics at the age of 4 because of the examples her older sisters, Emily and Samantha, set while competing in the sport. Katy’s future goals include becoming an elite athlete in the sport when she is older, said her mother Mary Eliasen.

“This is a huge commitment to compete and practice, but this is a commitment that Katy wants to make right now,” Mary Eliasen said. “Katy’s just your regular kid. Once you get going with something like this, your life doesn’t seem as different as it might seem to other people. She’s made so many good friends at the gym competing. It’s been a lot of hard work and dedication, but it’s been fun. She’s learned so many valuable life lessons with this and has developed strong work ethics with this.”

Katie was a TOPs National Gold Team member last year and hopes to qualify again this year. Those who qualify for the TOPs National Team will be invited to attend a training camp this December in Houston, at Karolyi’s Gymnastics, home of well-known gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi. The Karolyi’s coached Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Kim Zmeskal, Kerri Strug and many other World and Olympic champions.

Contact Lauri Zachry at 255-5827 or by e-mail at education@rrleader.com .