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“Gold medals are made out of sweat, blood, and tears”
Gabby Douglas, our Gymnastics golden girl! Two years ago, if you said the name Gabby Douglas, even the most influential people in the USA Gymnastics world would have had no idea who you were talking about.
Gabby had a dream in 2010, but her home town coach wasn’t quite what she needed anymore. She needed someone who had trained Elite gymnasts before. She needed to branch out in order to accomplish her biggest goal. Attending the Olympic Games for Gymnastics. So she begged her mother to let her move from her home in Virginia Beach to train alongside Shawn Johnson in Iowa. She immediately climbed to the top, but was never considered an Olympic Contendor until the 2012 Visa Championships where after the first day, she held strong in the first place spot… Only to fall on the Balance Beam in the first routine of Day 2. She still walked away that day with the 2nd place national title…. As an ALTERNATE. That is nearly unheard of. It was the bar routine that day that had me in awe. I knew, then and there, this was the girl to watch. She had improved more over the last year than any gymnast I’ve ever seen before.
Just look at that height! AND THOSE LINES.
Over the last year, I have watched Gabby grow from an incredibly talented Elite gymnast, to a world class National (and now Olympic) Champion.
I literally cried on Thursday, watching her nail routine after routine. Maintaining all of her focus on beam (which she has said is her weakest link. She has a problem with losing her focus on beam, resulting in wobbly execution)
Gabby Douglas is the gymnast I always wanted to be. Her incredible height on every event is astounding. You can tell from the leap before her sprint down the vault runway, that she is going to pound that table with unbelievable force. Her lines, flawless, long, gorgeous lines literally take my breath away!
But it doesn’t end there! My love for this girl comes from all aspects. Her huge, gigantic grin just eats me alive. She is so adorable. The sass she has in her moves on Floor always leave me with a smile, always leave me wanting to clap along with the audience. She really pulls you in. A true Artistic Gymnast in every sense of the term.
She re-sparked the huge flame for gymnastics that was never extinguished, but hasn’t been burning this bright and this strong since I was a competitive gymnast myself. The last time I felt a flame this big for the sport, was while training for the National Qualiier… Then I proceeded to blow my knee out during day one of competition….
So, I decided to take the plunge and do something, that from the ages of 6-17 I was certain I was going to do. I’m starting the process of becoming a USA Gymnastics Certified Jr. Olympic Team Coach. Once I finish that I have every intention of getting my National Coaching Certification. For financial reasons, and the fact that since I’m under 26 and not yet married, my dad makes too much money for me to get financial aid — I’m unable to go back to college this semester (don’t start. Have shed too many tears over this) So instead, I’m still going to be learning and doing something I’m passionate about.
Sent in the registration form for classes and will begin my first course the beginning of September! Taking it back to the basics with U100 Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruction which is broken down into 6 units
Unit 1: Introduction to Gymnastics
Coaches Clinic: Floor Exercise & Tumbling
Unit 2: Your Role as a Coach or Instructor
Coaches Clinic: Uneven Bars & Balance Beam
Unit 3: Gymnastics Safety
Coaches Clinic: Vault & Trampoline
Unit 4: Class & Practice Management
Coaches Clinic: High Bar & Parallel Bars
Unit 5: Athlete Development
Coaches Clinic: Pommel Horse & Still Rings
Unit 6: Teaching Gymnastics Skills
Coaches Clinic: Rhythmic & Acrobatic Gymnastics
To be 100% honest, I could care less about rhythmic or acrobatic gymnastics. I’m all about the competitive Artistic gymnastics. Sorry… But, it’ll be interesting to learn more about the two sports. 
I’m so PUMPED for this new journey! I’m not sure if I’ll coach for the rest of my life, or if it will be a full time job. But — I do want to get back in the gym and teaching (I used to teach…. without a certification…. At my old gym… SHHHH 
) and hopefully inspire and grow some awesome gymnasts! 
This is awesome Charlotte. You can feel and hear your passion and enthusiasm for the sport through your words. Sounds like you are starting on an incredible journey and can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Gabby is pretty amazing and her smile is so infectious.
Seriously, that smile just eats me alive! She is so sassy. I LOVE it
Oh wow!! How wonderful for you! This new journey is so exciting! I have just loved watching gabby too. She is the person little girls (and big girls alike ;o) should be admiring… Not the crazy pop icons and celeb divas that most do these days… It makes me so proud to be your spa sister and see u work Hard to accomplish these new goals! Can’t wait to follow the journey with ya through your blog! U go girl!
YES!!! we need to move this generations focus from trashy Reality celebs to these inspirational athletes!
I LOVE THIS!!! for me when Ive ever found my overall spark waning returning to what I loved as a kid lit me right back up!
so fun.
its amazing how as a kid we kind of knew all along what we really wanted out of life
You would make a fantastic coach! Gabby even sparked a little gymnastics love in me and I have no background in it!
I think she made the least interested in gymnastics a lover of the sport!
Wow that seems so interesting. Glad to see you’re going after a passion and you’re dedicated to learning. Let us know how it goes, I love gymnastics, and would appreciate a view from a coach’s perspective.
I’ll definitely be updating along the journey to getting certified! I’M SO EXCITED
WOW! I can “hear” the excitement in your voice. I can’t wait to see how this gymnastic journey all unfolds…don’t you just love the olympics?!
the olympics seriously make me want to do almost every sport known to man. haha
AMAZING! Very happy for you and excited for your new journey! I just wrote a post on my blog about Gabby today too because she has inspired me as well. Its great to see how the Olympics can unite so many of us and provide the motivation to soar to new heights.
it’s impossible NOT to be inspired by Gabby. She is absolutely infectious. THANK YOU
THAT IS SO EXCITING! you go girl
I love Gabby too, her smile makes me so happy!
right. she’s so dang cute and sassy!
Charlotte, how exciting! Your passion and enthusiasm for the sport just ooze out of this post! You will be a fantastic coach!
Thank you Tamara! I’m absolutely beyond stoked. I used to coach, a little bit, at my gym as a teenager. I miss it SO much
Absolutely fantastic and so happy for you. PS Gabby is my fave too! Her smile and positive energy is contagious!
it really is SO infectious. She just has so much spirit and sass.
So happy that you can take a step forward with something that you are passionate about and love! That is incredible! Good luck!!
Thank you! I’m beyond pumped for this journey
I am beyond excited for you. This is AWESOME and it’s so great that you’re taking inspiration and putting it towards doing something amazing. I can’t wait to hear more about it.
Thanks amanda! Your tweet this morning totally made my day, not even gonna lie. You’re the best <3
How exciting for you! Good luck on your new challenge! You’re going to be a great coach!
SO AWESOME! So happy you are taking the plunge and doing this. You are going to be a GREAT coach!
I am so proud of you! You are going to make an amazing coach. Pursuing your passions is what life is about. Way to go girl