Press
4000th Registered Athlete Bounds into Competition
Thursday, May 31, 2007
By Mindy Case
To 11-year-old Chelsea Grange being part of the Utah Summer Games is the highlight of the summer.
This will be the third year of competition in the Utah Summer Games. Grange is registered and set to compete in both soccer and power tumbling. And she has already won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Games!
"Coming to the Utah Summer Games is fun because I get to be with my friends and it's a great experience. It was really exciting to win a medal and I felt like I did a really good job," said Grange, "I also like the parade of athletes at the Opening Ceremonies!"
"I like power tumbling because it keeps me challenged and active," said Grange. One of her heros is right there in the gym with her too. "A guy at my gym is a level 10 and can do double backs. He helps me on the things I need to improve."
For those who don't already know; according to USA Gymnastics, power tumbling is performed on elevated spring runways that help tumblers propel themselves higher than a basketball hoop as they demonstrate speed, strength and skill while executing a series of acrobatic maneuvers. Top-level contenders will perform explosive somersaults with multiple flips and twists.
Just like so many of the other Utah Summer Games athletes, Grange excels in numerous other areas besides athletics.
"Keeping herself challenged and active is one of the motivating goals behind her many activities," said her father Mike Grange.
Not only does she spend an hour and half at the gym twice a week with the Northern Star Bounders in Ogden and play soccer she also shows her lamb and cows at various fairs and is active in the 4H program. Grange plays softball and basketball as well.
"She is athletic and does excellent in school," said Mike Grange said of his daughter. She just finished the fifth grade with straight A's at Farr West elementary.
Grange said her favorite school topic is Math but she couldn't answer any more questions because she was on her way out the door to power tumbling practice ... that's the way it goes for this involved athlete!
The Utah Summer Games is the state's oldest Olympic-style sports festival and offers over 50 different events, including Boxing, Lacrosse and of course Power Tumbling.
Labels: Athletes
