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Every four years, millions of TV viewers tune in to watch the their country’s best athletes represent in a number of sports.
At The Rock of Sports and Performing Art in Weatherford, owner and coach Tina Rusinovich helps fuel those athletes from the ground up.
Rusinovich’s gym, which has been open for five years, houses approximately 500 athletes, typically ages 12 and under, who compete in a wide array of events and levels, including artistic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling work. The Rock also provides after-school care and birthday party venues.
A select group of young gymnasts are fortunate to be selected in the Talent Opportunity Program, a nation-wide initiative that helps to identify young gymnasts with the ability to excel in the sport.
More than 3,100 gymnasts participate in state and regional testing, with more than 300 qualifying for national testing based on test scores.
Two athletes from The Rock, Layla Terrell and Maysi Richards, advanced to the national level.
“It’s not an easy process,” Rusinovich said of the testing. “Some of the requirements are press handstands, holding a handstand for one minute or climbing a rope without using your legs.
“Athletes train for years to get to that level of strength and flexibility. Qualifying for nationals is a very prestigious honor. Lots of kids compete but most are not at that caliber.”
Terrell, Richards and many other gymnasts dedicated to fulfilling their dream of the Olympics, start early and work incredibly hard. The lucky few selected are invited to train at the National Training Center in Houston one week every six months.
“Our elite program is accelerated and takes in kids that are more talented,” Rusinovich said. “It requires determination and an extreme commitment.”
The elite athletes train 28 hours a week, and are home schooled to allow time for training as well as family.
“My dream is to go to the Olympics,” Terrell, 8, said. “The best part of gymnastics is working with Tina and the girls.”
Terrell began her quest for an Olympic berth at the age of 3 and has been flourishing ever since.
“She’s always at the top or near the top and she has very high expectations,” Rusinovich said. “She’s young and still learning how to handle the pressure.”
Richards, now 9, began at the age of 4 and has since reached a training level of 9.
“For me, the best moment was when I found out I made it to nationals,” she said when she was selected to the National Development Team.
While the determination is there, Richards has had to take a step back, after beginning rehab for an elbow injury.
“In gymnastics, you learn so many lifeskills,” Rusinovich said. “It’s inspiring to watch them overcome fears, obstacles, frustrations and still push through.”
The Rock will be hosting a meet today and Saturday, the Super Bowl Saturday Gymnastics Meet.
Events begin tonight at 6:30 p.m. for Session I, levels two and three. Saturday’s schedule begins at 8 a.m. with level four, 11:15 a.m. with level five, divisions 4,5,6 and 7, level five at 3 p.m., divisions 2 and 3, and levels seven and eight at 6:45 p.m.
Admission is $7 per adults, $5 per children, and a supervised play area will be available for younger children at an additional $5 per session.
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Related Photos
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Layla Terrell, 8, has been working toward competing in the Olympics since she was three-years-old.
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Layla Terrell (left) and Maysi Richards (right) are two of the gymnasts at The Rock who have made it to nationals.
![Maysi_and_Layla[1].jpg](http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x2053729541/g0a000000000000000060f086f586c1a0e9c5cab4557c480f6753eb79e4.jpg "Maysi_and_Layla[1].jpg")
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