I walked into the gym off-hours to sign up for a make-up class, and then I saw it. Six girls around the age of 10 were on the beam doing skills that made me think of Cirque Du Soleil.
I should probably mention that when I brought my daughter to the gym, I knew absolutely nothing about artistic gymnastics, its types, events, levels, routines, or competitions. It came as a shock to me seeing little girls perform such advanced skills (I later learned that those were press-to-handstands, and that even some 5 year-olds could do them). But at that point all I knew was that this was exactly what I wanted for my daughter. I asked the lady at the reception what level the girls were, and was told that they were level 4 (the new 5). 'How come', I asked, 'your brochure only mentions Girls 1, 2, and 3?' 'Those are different', she answered, 'You are in recreational gymnastics, and this is compulsory gymnastics'. 'How do we sign up for compulsory?', I asked. 'You can't', she replied,' You can only get there if a team coach invites you.' And then she pointed at a girl watching the gymnasts from the side. The girl looked like a teenager. I suddenly had a clear goal defined in my head.
I went straight to her and asked if she could evaluate my daughter for a pre-team. The coach said their pre-team was full, but she would keep us in mind for when there is an opening. I wasn't too happy but what could I do?.. I left.
...And a week later something unbelievable happened.
...TO BE CONTINUED...
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