The City Of Champions has a bright and shining star illuminating the horizon and flip-flopping her way into the spotlight.
Brittany Leamon, a seven-year- old gymnast, has recently returned from the 2001 Junior Olympics National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, where she became the United States National Champion in power tumbling.
The young gymnast has a natural ability in the sport of gymnastics, which has amazed those around her since she was two-years-old and first became involved in the sport.
Marisa Wiles, one of Brittany’s many coaches, recalls spotting the youngster at the ripe old age of three, when she would do standing flip-flops.
"I had never seen a three-year-old do something like that," recalls coach Rick Wiles, who has been on hand to witness some of Brittany’s amazing progress.
Brittany had her competitive debut at the age of four, when a special meet was held in Alamogordo. This meet was non-sanctioned by the AGA, so that Brittany could be included in the competition, since most children do not compete until the age of five.
Her entire family and all of her coaches were astounded when the vibrant four-year-old won the meet.
The competition was the first of more to come and last year Brittany became one of five gymnasts represented by Artesia Family Fitness Center to qualify for nationals.
"It was the first time we had girls to qualify (for nationals) and we didn’t know what to expect," said coach Wiles.
This year, at seven-years-old and with more experience than most children her age, Brittany once again qualified for nationals.
In order to get her pumped up for the competition, friends and family members offered Brittany different sums of money if she won. Brittany walked out onto the floor and told Rick, (Coach Wiles) "I’m gonna win first place," her mother, Yvonne, said. "When they announced that she had won the title, I told her that she was the champion and all she could say was, ‘I get twenty dollars!’ She had no clue what she had just done," Rick Wiles said.
Along with Leamon, five other girls from The Artesia Family Fitness gym also qualified for nationals. Lorraine Gallegos, from Roswell Family Fitness qualified in all three events and received 12th place in trampoline.
Andrea Vega, also from the Roswell gym, received 8th place in all around tumbling with this being her first year to compete.
Katy Simmons, who trains at the Artesia gymnasium, qualified in two events and was unable to qualify in her strongest event, tumbling, due to an injury.
Laiken Velasquez, another bright young athlete from The Artesia Family Fitness Center, qualified in tumbling and in trampoline. She walked away with 14th place overall on trampoline. Kaylee Wallace was yet another gymnast from this team who qualified for nationals, but she was unable to attend the meet.
Taylor Tumbling, of Artesia, also had gymnasts who competed at the national level. Carissa Baize placed seventh nationally in level 7 of power tumbling, while Whitney Baize competed at level 5 in the same event and finished 14th overall.
Jessica Simons competed in two events and placed 9th in power tumbling at level 7 and 24th in double-mini trampoline at level 8. Christy Allen was another Taylor Tumbler who competed in the power tumbling division and finished in 18th place.
Kelsey Scott competed in level 6 and received 19th place and Jessica Adams tumbled at level 5 and earned 15th in the nation. Allison Klein also competed in power tumbling and was 11th in level 7. Sydney Lewis tumbled in level 7 power tumbling as well and received 23rd overall.
Rounding out the Taylor Tumbling athletes who went to nationals is Meghan Green who competed in both trampoline at level 6 and in double-mini trampoline at level 8. She was awarded 20th and 24th in these fields.
Artesia athletes have consistently proven themselves to be superior competitors in every sport that they attempt. We can now officially add gymnastics to our wall of fame and look forward to future achievements in these remarkable young gymnasts whose dreams and aspirations have the potential to propel them into a life of grandeur that most of us only dream about.