Laurie Hernandez Book Review

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Laurie Hernandez is one of my favorite gymnasts of all time.  Her sassy and vibrant personality jumps out of the TV when you are watching her.  I was excited to read her book and find out more about her story.

I love Laurie’s book!  She brings a young, bubbly perspective to the process of becoming an olympic athlete.  It is very clear that Laurie was not an underdog. She had a much faster rise to fame and peaked right before the Olympic Games.  Timing is everything. I didn’t really know much about Laurie prior to Summer of 2016 so it was nice to find out what she went through to get to her level of gymnastics. Laurie did not start competing with the Senior Elites until 2016.  She did not have as much experience as some of the other Senior Elites but that didn’t stop her.

Laurie shines brightest on the Floor Exercise event.  She proves that it is not just about tumbling. Dance is so important in a gymnastics routine and she shows it better than anyone I have ever seen.  I love watching her perform on floor. She has received the nickname “The Human Emoji” and you can clearly see why. Laurie has has so much attitude and makes sure to show off every move in her routine.  Check out her amazing floor routine!!

Performances like this one helped the US Women’s Gymnastics team win the Gold medal and it also landed her a spot on the show “Dancing With The Stars”.  How cool! I love that Laurie talks a lot about the exciting things that happened following the Olympics. Her perspective is fun to read!

You also should follow Laurie Hernandez on Instagram.  She always brightens my day! Check out Laurie’s book and did you know that she also has a children’s book?  This girl is awesome!

Laurie also announced that she was back in the gym training for a comeback!  I can’t wait to see her in competition again. She is so fun to watch.

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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Fierce

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Last winter I had some down time to sit and read Aly Raisman’s book “Fierce” and I loved it!  Aly laid it all out there for her fans and I am glad that she shared her story so openly. Aly Raisman started appearing on the radar as a contender for the 2012 Olympic team as an underdog.  She was a fantastic gymnast but wasn’t the best in the nation or the world leading up to the Olympics. I was very happy to see her make the team because she was one of my favorites. She really peaked at the perfect time and showed the world that she was no longer the underdog once at the Olympics.  She emerged as the team leader and helped the US Women’s Gymnastics team win Gold as the anchor on the floor exercise and it was such a magical moment watching her seal the deal. Another amazing moment from those games was when Aly performed her stellar routine at the Floor Exercise Individual Final and brought home another Gold medal.

You can clearly see in Aly’s book that it wasn’t easy for her to reach her goal.  She had a lot of challenges and pushed through and is a true fighter. I really love how Aly talks about many different aspects to being an elite athlete and the sacrifices you go through to achieve your dreams.  She even brings up the fact that a lot of moments when she was feeling tired or was having issues with aches and pains was resulted from her diet. She details what she did to help her get back into competition ready shape for her comeback leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games.  What a comeback it was. Aly came back better than ever and led the team to another Gold medal. She also impressed in the All-Around competition bringing home the silver medal after just missing the podium at the 2012 games. It was fun watching her again.

 

I think Aly Raisman is a great role model for young girls and I recommend this book whether you are a gymnast or just a fan of Aly. Aly is a big advocate for self care which is something we all need more of in our lives.  It is important to work hard, but you also need to make time to pamper yourself a little bit and enjoy life.

 

Thank you Aly for sharing your story! Check it out!

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

 

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NCAA Team Field Trip

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This past spring, University of Illinois Chicago hosted the 2018 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics National Championships and of course my boys gymnastics team had to take a team field trip to watch the competition.

This was the perfect team bonding experience for our team.  We took a bus down to the venue and got to see some of the best gymnastics in the country, live. We sat right in front of the high bar and parallel bars and my athletes were blown away by what they were seeing.  These athletes defy gravity and throw big skills. It certainly is fun to watch. It was great to see many teams from the Chicagoland area come together for such a major event.

I am glad that my boys were able to have such a rare opportunity to make memories with their teammates.  UIC put on a spectacular event! If there is a big gymnastics event in your area, I suggest getting your teammates together for a fun night of big gymnastics.  Team bonding makes for the best memories!

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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“The Flip Side” by Shawn Johnson

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I just finished reading Shawn Johnson’s new book called “The Flip Side”.  Shawn Johnson is one of my favorite gymnasts and I was excited to see that she released a Young Adult novel.  This book was so good! “The Flip Side” gives us all a look into the life of a young Elite gymnast who is trying to balance life at a public school while trying to achieve her goal of making the Olympic team. This book is not a biography although I am sure that Shawn pulled a lot of her own experiences to create this story. As a former gymnast, I knew that this book would be up my alley but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book appeals to people that aren’t involved in the sport of gymnastics as well. I was thrilled when the librarian told me that this book came in and was available for check out. I think anyone, especially those involved in extra-curricular activities can relate to the characters in this book.  It can be difficult juggling all the things that life throws at us. Being a teenager is hard. There can be a lot of pressure and sometimes the pressure comes from ourselves more than anything.  Sometimes we want to give up on our dreams but it is a great feeling to push through and overcome the obstacles. It makes the end result so much sweeter when you can look back and think “I did it!”  This book talks about managing school, being an athlete and also managing relationships with friends, family. She even talks about what dating is like for an Elite athlete. Shawn Johnson’s book is very easy to follow and I thought it was a quick read.  If you are looking for a feel good story, check out “The Flip Side.”

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

 

 

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I Am Second Documentary

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This is a documentary that I think every gymnast can relate to in some way. Shawn Johnson opens up about her experience after taking home the silver medal in the 2008 Olympic All-Around event. This is a much watch!

I am really happy that Shawn put her experiences out there because I feel like it can really help other gymnasts that have gone through similar experiences and how to overcome the disappointment that can come with being an athlete. Thank you Shawn for opening up to the gymnastics world. Shawn was the best gymnast in the World.  She was the World Champion in 2007 and won many competitions.  She was the favorite to win the All-Around at the Beijing Olympic Games.  Shawn had an incredible meet and so did Nastia Liukin.  In the end, Nastia ended up beating Shawn in the All-Around event.  Shawn came away with the silver medal which is amazing!  It is sad that so many people were giving her grief about getting silver instead of gold.  She did her best and still achieved a high honor at the Olympics.

Shawn did get her redemption in the Balance Beam Final where she finally won her gold medal.  That was an exciting comeback moment.  Shawn is still one of my favorite gymnasts of all time.  She is tiny and powerful and is always smiling.  She should be very proud of what she did as an Elite gymnast.  She was the best in the world and I think this documentary shows that getting second place shouldn’t be such a disappointment.  Doing your best is what matters and if you get to go home with a medal, no matter what color it is, that is pretty amazing! Thank you Shawn for sharing this story and helping other gymnasts and athletes out there with their own struggles.

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

 

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Put Some Sass Into Your Floor Routine

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I was watching the UCLA vs. Oregon State gymnastics meet and felt inspired to highlight Sophina DeJesus and her incredible hip hop floor routine. Sophina’s floor routine has gone viral with millions of views.

It is amazing what a difference it makes when you put some sass into your routine

If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to check it out.

No matter what genre of gymnastics floor music you have or your dance ability, you really need to put some personality in your performance.  It is amazing what a difference it makes when you put some sass into your routine. The judges and the crowd want to see you having fun out on that floor.

An unforgettable floor routine starts out with fantastic music paired with fun, unique choreography that is expressive. Sophina gives everything she’s got during her routine and it really pays off. Her face is so expressive and she really uses her head to give her choreography some extra attitude.

Put some extra sass in your routine!

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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Ingredients For Being A Successful Athlete

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Watching my brother Josh this weekend at the Midwest Regional Wrestling Championships has inspired me to write this blog post. He has been such an inspiration to me and he possesses all of qualities needed to be a successful athlete.  These qualities pertain to any sport or activity including gymnastics.

Everyone always says that hard work and a positive attitude are the key to success. It is so true!

My brother, is currently wrapping up his Wrestling career as a senior in college. This weekend he punched his ticket for the NCAA Division III Championships. He is ranked in the top 10. However, four weeks ago he suffered a knee injury significantly decreasing his chances of qualifying for the NCAA Championship. Nobody wants to go out their senior year on a bad note and I am so happy he was able to get healthy enough to lay it all on the mat to qualify for the NCAA’s for the 2nd time.

Talent certainly helps but you can also be a “good” athlete who turns into a “great” athlete by setting goals for yourself and working hard. My brother is the perfect example of this.

Not every practice is going to be a good one but what is important is how you handle yourself when things aren’t going your way. If you throw a fit or get down on yourself every time things get tough, you are hurting your progress for achieving your goals. I truly believe that you need to fail in order to succeed.  When mistakes are made, you want to reflect on those mistakes and learn from them. It is ok to be disappointed but you want to quickly turn that into inspiration to get back at it even harder so you can overcome your challenges.

In order to achieve your highest level of potential, every practice and every turn needs to be done with focus, confidence and maximum effort. You want to practice everything you do with excellent form as well. It is amazing how much improvement can occur when an athlete works their hardest day in and day out.

Other qualities necessary for success are…

  • Being a supportive teammate
  • Coachability
  • Leadership
  • Good sportsmanship
  • Discipline
  • Staying healthy/rehabbing injuries
  • Visualization
  • Confidence
  • Patience

You want to be confident in what you are doing but you don’t want to be have an attitude that rubs people the wrong way. Have good sportsmanship with your competitors.

I think being a good teammate, leadership, sportsmanship and coach-ability go hand in hand. In order to reach your individual goals, you need to have a good support system which is where your team and coach will come in. You spend a lot of time with these people so you will want to give and earn their respect. Be a supportive teammate and be proud of their success even if you don’t have the best day. Having excellent leadership skills really go a long way. You are setting the tone for your other teammates, especially the younger athletes in your gym. Being a good leader includes having a good attitude and respecting your coaches.  Having coach-ability qualities means that you listen to your coaches’ advice even if you don’t necessarily agree. If they give you corrections, you will want to do your best to implement them to show that you respect their opinion and are willing to do what it takes to get better. It is never a good idea to argue with your coach.

It is important to be confident and aggressive in sports, but you never want to be cocky. You want to be confident in what you are doing but you don’t want to be have an attitude that rubs people the wrong way. Have good sportsmanship with your competitors.

Visualization is a great tool to use when you are in line waiting for your turn or even at home before you go to bed. Just close your eyes and picture the skills or routines you are about to do or even picture yourself on the top of that podium at a competition. It is even a good idea to write your goals down in a journal or make a poster to hang in your room to remind you of what you want to achieve.

Patience and discipline are a given. You will want to avoid missing practices and make sure you are doing your conditioning and stretching properly. Patience can be hard sometimes but if you keep working hard, your patience will pay off.

One of the most important ingredients for success is staying healthy and rehabbing your injuries properly. Stretching and warming up properly before you work out or compete is so important. Keeping your body conditioned allows you to protect your body when doing your skills. If you do get injured, you will want to do the necessary exercises and rehab to get yourself back in competition as quickly as possible.

I can honestly say that I have first hand seen what putting all of these important qualities together can do for somebody and it is really remarkable what can be accomplished. Try your best to bring these qualities to your gymnastics and it will truly pay off for you.

I have seen too many gymnasts including myself be their own worst enemy. Make the decision to change that! Be proud of what you have already accomplished!

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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The Importance of Basics and Form

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There are very important steps necessary before you dive into all of the action.

Every new gymnast is eager to learn fun flips and tricks when they decide to try gymnastics. Of course the ultimate goal is to get to the “fun stuff” but there are very important steps necessary before you dive into all of the action.

The number one priority when doing gymnastics is safety. It is so important to start out with the basic skills and drills to ensure that you are learning the proper technique and body awareness before you start throwing more challenging tricks.

Focus on keeping your arms and legs tight and straight when working on your basic skills.

By practicing basic skills and form repetitively, you will train and condition your body to be ready for that next step in your journey as a gymnast.  Make sure you focus on keeping your arms and legs tight and straight when working on your basic skills. If you practice basics with sloppy form, you will continue to have problems with your form once you move on to higher level skills.  I know that it can sometimes seem boring but keep at it and I promise it will pay off.

Once you start upgrading your skills, I highly recommend continuing to go back a refine and perfect what you have already learned, especially handstands!  It can only help your development and discipline to achieve your goals in this great sport.

Keep up your hard work!

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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What My Athletes Have Taught Me

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My athletes have taught me that you can start gymnastics at any age and still be successful even if you have a later start in the sport. I came from the club atmosphere where everybody had been doing gymnastics since they were very young.

When I became a high school athlete, and eventually a coach, I realized quickly that there are high school students that want to learn gymnastics but have had no previous experience.

My athletes have proven me time and time again that even if you have no prior experience, you can still become a successful competitor and represent your school as an athlete. I am amazed at what can be accomplished with hard work and the drive to have a spot on a team.   If a student wants something bad enough, they will work their butt off and will learn very quickly.

“Anything is possible and that there is more to being a part of a team than winning or being the best.”

It is amazing that within a three month period of time, a student can go from no gymnastics skills to being a competitive gymnast.  My gymnasts have truly proven me that anything is possible and that there is more to being a part of a team than winning or being the best.

My goal has always been to build confidence and to try to improve their individual routines throughout the season. I try to create a positive atmosphere for these kids to have a fun learning experience.  It is great to see the smiles on their faces when they learn a new skill or hit their routine. It makes me so proud to see that!

The other main thing I have learned from coaching my athletes is that there is so much more than gymnastics being learned in the gym. There are so many life skills that are being developed while doing sports including hard work, confidence building, discipline, staying mentally tough and teamwork.

I am so proud of my girls and I know I will continue learning my own life lessons while working with them.

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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Creative Usage of Vocal Sounds in Gymnastics Music

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I wanted to address the issue of using vocals in  floor music. We have found that many gymnasts and coaches prefer to stay away from using vocals in their floor music because they fear getting a deduction. Rule 9-2-4b of the NFHS rule book clearly states “Human sounds are allowed, provided there are no words spoken or sung.”

Here at GymnasticsTracks.com we love to use vocal sounds as an instrument to make a music piece a little bit more unique and exciting. There is a lot you can do with the human voice to add a dash of creativity and to add an extra layer of detail to the track without the risk of suffering a deduction.

For the most part, we like to use vocals in subtle way. Sometimes people wouldn’t even notice that there are vocal sounds in the song because it sounds like an instrument. We want to explain to our customers that it is ok to use vocals in a song as long as there are no words. The human voice should be looked at as an instrument and we can do a lot with it.

I personally used floor music that had human sounds in it and I never received deductions. I never had a judge say anything about it being a problem.

We understand the concerns that people may have regarding this issue but we ask our customers to be open to the use of the human voice in their floor music. If done right, it can add the perfect touch to your floor music.

 

Christina Tardy Gymnastics Coach

Christina Tardy
Founder/Principal
GymnasticsTracks.com

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