Olympics has impact on local gymnastics growth

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — You hear the names Bart Conner or Simone Biles and you immediately think, one of the greatest, if not the greatest American gymnasts of all time.

Oftentimes kids look up to them in hopes to one day be on the Olympic stage.

With the 2024 Summer Olympics in full swing, we went down to Bart Conner Gymnastics in Norman to see the impact the Olympics has on the next generations.

“Simone Biles, because she is the greatest gymnast of all time,” said Aeris Gleckler, a young gymnast, when asked who her favorite gymnast was.

The earlier you start something, the better chance you have of learning it and becoming great at it. That’s something gymnastic coaches say is pivotal in their sport.

“We have kids from all ages,” Ben Fox, Gymnastics Director at Bart Conner Gymnastics said. “They start at two years old. We have preschool classes and then if the kids show some real talent, usually as they get a little older, we have a lot of competitive programs and teams, boys and girls.”

On any given day, Bart Conner Gymnastics is full of young gymnasts flipping, swinging and tumbling all around.

However, during the Olympics, more kids take an interest, eager to see if they have what it takes to become one of the greats.

“They get really excited and then you throw the Olympic year into it, everybody watches and they want to be the next Nadia, Mary Louise, Shannon Miller, Simone Biles,” Fox said.

The grind to get there isn’t an easy one, but looking up to some of the best who have ever done it helps them see it is possible.

“There’s always an interest for gymnastics here but especially when the Olympics are on because everyone watches Sumo, and the boys, The Fredericks,” Rita Clark, gymnastics coach at Bart Conner Gymnastics said. “I mean, obviously the Olympics, we can’t do that just yet, but they’re always watching. The older girls, seeing if they can learn those tricks, too.”

While goals are set high for kids at such a young age, coaches say the main thing for now is having fun, and success will follow.

“My favorite event in gymnastics is bars because you get to do flips on the bars,” Finley Mahand, young gymnast said.

We might see little Finley and Aeris at the Olympics down the road.

In the meantime, they along with most of America will be watching the USA Women’s Gymnastics Team Finals on Tuesday morning at 11:15 a.m. on NBC.

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