For gymnastics: A well-earned ‘Gold Medal’

Gold medalist Amanda Borden and Casey Betts

Whether soaring from the uneven bars, twirling across a balance beam or executing dizzying flips, Amanda Borden knows that gymnastics is a sport that captivates.

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“A lot of times they see it on TV and it’s intriguing and amazing to watch. Every kid at some point wants to be able to do a cartwheel or a flip,” Borden said.

She also knows what it’s like to be inspired by a gymnast’s excellence. Borden remembers watching Mary Lou Retton earn a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Twelve years later, Borden herself won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team, better known as the Magnificent Seven.

Today, it’s Borden who is inspiring young people to reach for the stars. She and her husband, Brad, owners of Gold Medal Gymnastics, believe in the power of the sport to help young people be the best they can be.

Gold Medal Gymnastics, which opened in Tempe in 2004 and Chandler in 2008, is the destination for hundreds of area kids of all ages. The gym features 10 levels of the sport, with varying levels of intensity.

“They can begin when they can start walking. My 10-month-old is just beginning to walk and I can’t wait to bring him in to explore and climb,” Borden said.

“The thing about gymnastics is, there are so many ways to be a gymnast. Not everybody wants to be, or is cut out to be, a high-level, competitive gymnast.”

Casey Betts, who will begin her senior year at Coronal del Sol High School in a few weeks, is one of the more competitive members of Gold Medal. She’ll be receiving a scholarship to the University of Minnesota next year and took part in the prestigious national competition over the last three years.

In the 2015 event, Betts was ranked 19th in the nation. Her years at Gold Medal Gymnastics, she said, have helped her to develop leadership and time management.

Betts leaves school by 11:30 a.m., then heads to the gym where she works out until 6 p.m. After that, it’s time for her online courses to make up for classes she missed during traditional school hours.

“At that level they come five times a week for approximately 25-ish hours a week,” Borden said. “Basically, when they get to that level, for the majority of them, their goal is to receive a college scholarship. We graduated two seniors with full-ride scholarships this year.”

But it’s not all about competition at Gold Medal. It’s also about having fun and developing character.

“It’s also our philosophy that it’s important for life to help them to be successful people, learning life skills that make you a successful person, not just at gymnastics. That’s our philosophy and we attract people from all over the Valley that are looking for that,” Borden said.

In July, for example, they focused on effort. “So much of our culture focuses in on results and we have to have those goals to motivate us to work hard to accomplish something, but it’s the effort goals that actually make the results happen,” Borden said. “Everybody wants to gain this skill or that, so with an effort goal we are teaching them how they are going to get that. If you only do three of those a day you’re probably are not going to accomplish it. If you do 300 of those a day, you are going to accomplish it. So setting those kind of step goals.”

Yearly summer recreational camps that feature games, snacks, crafts and plenty of exercise are another big draw at the gym.

With former Olympic athletes such as 2012 gold medalist Jordyn Wieber helping out, and visits by an impressive Darth Vader look-alike at a Jedi-themed week, participants from beginners to more accomplished gymnasts enjoy the summer fun.

Betts said she was definitely inspired by Wieber.

“It was fun just being around and learning from the corrections they’re giving,” Betts said.

“We bring in role models or people who re-emphasize the importance of mastering skills and the kids go, ‘Wow. She said the same thing you say.’ I think with young girls it’s really important to be bringing role models in. I know the impact that had on me as a young gymnast,” Borden said.

Nearly 20 years after she stood on the stage as the national anthem played at the medals ceremony in the 1996 Olympics, it’s clear that Borden’s zeal for the sport hasn’t taken a tumble.

“This is my passion. I love gymnastics and working with kids,” she said.

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