Gymnastics Academy

To become one of the best in the world requires extensive training. This may require attending a gymnastics academy. Some gymnasts are happy practicing and training at a club or in their school gymnasium; others hire private coaches; still others attend gymnastics schools or academies. Nadia Comaneci, who changed the world’s ideal of a gymnast forever, trained at fellow countryman, Bela Karolyi’s school in Romania. At the 1976 Olympic Summer Games in Montreal, Nadia Comaneci scored seven perfect 10s winning two gold’s, one silver and a bronze.

Karolyi took his system of training to the United States, defecting to this country in 1981 during an exhibition tour with the Romanian team. By the end of 1983, the Karolyi Complex in Houston, Texas, housed a gym, dormitories, a swimming pool, tennis courts and a ranch. Today, the Houston Gymnastics Academy offers students a wide variety of programs to improve their skills in gymnastics. Under its slogan “Growing mentally and physically since 1984,” it joins with several other academies across the country to provide encouragement and inculcate skills to youngsters at all levels.

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There are many different gymnastic schools from which to choose. The Livonia Gymnastics Academy, Michigan, has been in operation for more than 15 years. It works closely with the Livonia Public Schools, Community Education Service Department to provide instruction to children from age one to 18. The Krafft Academy of Gymnastics in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been in operation since 1991. The husband and wife team of Jean-Luc Cairon and Kristi Krafft try to make gymnastics a positive activity. Meanwhile, the Central Pennsylvania Academy of Gymnastics in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, states this is “Where Flipping is Fun,” and Maine Academy of Gymnastics in New England is “Home of the American Flyers.” Bismarck Gymnastics Academy is a serious school offering to train to enhance “the strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and self esteem of participants.

The various academies from the American Gymnastics Academy Columbus Gymnastics Academy in Ohio, to the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics in Springfield, Oregon to Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics offer similar programs. There are classes for infants, toddlers and young and older children. There are also programs for cheerleaders. Sunrise Gymnastics Academy has tumbling classes and programs for high school youth. The Hamilton Gymnastics Academy in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, even offers boys “Kicknastics” a combination of tumbling and non-contact martial arts.

One interesting note – Sunrise Gymnastics Academy, Inc., Houston Gymnastics Academy, the Gymnastics Academy of Rockford, Illinois, Livonia Gymnastics Academy and Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta, Georgia, provide birthday parties in their facilities.