Olympics increasing number of gymnasts

By Brent Hinckley

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight

Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson are the newest names from the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team who are inspiring future gymnasts.

For local coaches and gym owners, the Olympic games also mean an increase in business.

"The volume of calls just goes up," said Cassie Rice, owner of Henderson Gymcats. "There's just an increase of interest from parents and kids, because of what they see on television. It's our most effective way of advertising."

Vitaly Scherbo, owner of Vitaly Scherbo School of Gymnastics in Northwest Las Vegas, agreed.

"The Olympics get kids excited about gymnastics. They see these athletes and decide it's something they want to do," Scherbo said.

Rice was so busy traveling and training with Gymcats' Tasha Schwikert, a member of the U.S. gymnastics team in 2000 and 2004, that she didn't deal with the effects of the Olympics at her gym.

"I finally saw the immediate effects of the Olympics on us, and I had no idea it would be like this," Rice said.

Rice said there were approximately 1,500 gymnasts at Gymcats prior to the Olympics but said she doesn't yet know many children have joined since the Olympics started.

Jordan Coburn, 15, a sophomore at Green Valley High, has been at Gymcats for eight years.

"I know a lot of people and kids who get hyped up because of the Olympics," she said. "My own sister, who is 6, is really into it now and wants to be in the Olympics."

Coburn said even after eight years in gymnastics, watching the Olympics still motivates her.

"It's amazing to see the things they do. Most gymnasts are small and then I see Nastia, who is taller like me and it pushes me," Coburn said.

Scherbo said a lot of the gymnasts who join because of the Olympics end up staying with the sport.

"There are some kids who quickly realize how hard it is and quit, but a lot of them stay with it," he said.

Rice also sees a rise in the number of male gymnasts because of the Olympics.

"In the U.S., gymnastics is known as a girls sport and it's hard to keep boys in it. Colleges are cutting their programs and dropping scholarships, so boys get pulled away," Rice said.

She tries to help boys who join her program see how gymnastics aids in other sports.

"The strength they need here is amazing," Rice said. "Gymnastics better prepares them for other sports, making them faster and stronger."

Both Rice and Scherbo said the biggest problem they face with the increase of gymnasts is parents and children who think they can make the Olympics.

"There's a lot of parents who are delusional about how easy it is," Rice said. "With hundreds of thousands of gymnasts and only six who make the Olympic team, their odds are really small."

Brent Hinckley is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2074 or [email protected].