Happy Sweet 16 to Kyla Ross!

A collection of letters, videos, and collages from some of Kyla's biggest fans! 

Dear Kyla,

HAPPY SWEET 16!! You are beyond amazing and I’ve loved watching your gymnastics since 2009. I hope you know how big of an impact you’ve had on me, and everyone else in the gymnastics community. You have always taken the time respond to me although I try not to bug you and that means a lot, so thank you! You have made me realize just how much I love this sport and so much more! You will never truly know how much you’ve done for me because it is indescribable and you’ve done it by just being you. Getting to watch you in London was a dream come true, you really shined! Maybe Rio will be even better ;D. But beyond the fact that you are a fantastic gymnast, you are a really nice person! All your fans realize that and that is why we have all contributed something to this blog to show our appreciation to you. I really hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and look at everyone’s individually. I know they all care a great deal because I decided on this project about 3 days ago and with everyone’s busy schedules, that’s not very much time to be given for as a deadline. So enjoy!

From your biggest fan,

                                XOXO-@kylarossfans

Kyla,

I, and all of your other fans around the world, would like to wish you a Happy Birthday! You have the best bar and beam routine around! You did amazing in the 2012 Olympics by winning the Gold, and I can’t wait to see you in Rio in 2016. I hope you have a great sophomore year, and a wonderful Sweet 16. Happy Birthday!

Your number 1 fan,

Kevin Steiner

(@kstein14)

Dear Kyla,
You became an Olympic gold medalist at the tender age of 15 and now you're moving into another phase of your life, we all wish you nothing but luck, we love you so much and are SO proud of you. Here's to your next big achievement! Happy Birthday!
Sincerely,
We love you, see you in Rio!

(@Keke1014)

             

 (@lauren_stevens2)

(@LibbyDaniells)

Hi Kyla! Happy birthday!

You are one of my favorite gymnasts! Congrats for being an Olympic champion!

I'd like to wish you all the best for the upcoming years and i definitely wish to see you doing well in the world of gymnastics and beyond!

I will always support you as a fan! Crossing my fingers to see you once again in Rio2016!

(@AmitFinkel)

(@fresher_than_fruit) 

Happy Birthday Kyla! You are amazing and I hope you have a great birthday!! You are an awesome gymnast!!
I love you!

K. Kapplinger

HAPPPY B DAY KYLA YOU PROBABLY WILL NEVER KNOW ME BUT I AM SO GLAD I SAW YOU
DO YOUR AMAZING GYMNASTICS. I am also a gymnast a level 7 an I am eleven years old If you would like to email me do it at littlesher@verizon.net
Please I would die if you emailed me back in a good way!!!! Thank You

-Sheridan

I just want to say happy birthday, and that you are amazing and a huge inspiration.
Love, 

Jessica

(maddierule6) 

(@fiercefive_xoxo)

 

(@USAgymnast97)

-Sarah

 

(@samlane26)

 

Dear Kyla,
I admire you so much! But, this ain't about me! Sooooo... well... I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You are a great person and should be happy of all your accomplishments. You are young and should enjoy your day's joys. I one day hope to be like you, not just competing at an international level, but just being as strong as you in hard times.
<3 Alyssa Cavazos

@gymgal_is_awesome

 

Dear Kyla Ross,
Happy 16th birthday omigosh! You are the most amazing gymnast ever. And at only 16 years old, you are a spectacular inspiration to all young gymnasts. At the 2012 Olympics you shined. You are overlooked by many people but deserve to be known as the best! Sure, you didn't win AA gold like Gabby, vault like Mckayla, kill like Aly or win Worlds like Jordyn but you really contributed to the team! The point is that without your strong bars, beam and team spirit the team would not have won gold at the Olympics!!! The second team for the USA in history! You should be beaming with pride! Since you are barely 16 you have another realistic shot of competing at 2016 Rio. Of course, if you decide you're done, your fans will support you 100%.

I find it so outstanding that you traveled to the Olympics with one of your best friends from your childhood! You and Mckayla are a great example anything can happen of you put your mind to it!

Okay so bye! I know if you actually read this you wouldn't have time to answer with the Kellogs tour and all. Butttttt if you did decide to answer I would probably fan girl till I passed out!!
I love you Kyla and remember so do the rest of your fans!
Happy 16th!

(@gymnastics_edits_8)

 

(@Annaburnsy)

 

-Eric

 

(@amanda_carmela)

 

 

Happy Birthday Kyla!!! Hope you enjoy your sweet 16! :D

-Lorenzo, Dillon, and Josh

(@igetbucketz)

 

(@witeboipinoy)

 

(@gymnastprobszz)

 

Happy Sweet Sixteen Kyla

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!Kyla I hope you have an Awesome and Fun Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are such an inspiration and such an awesome Role-Model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May your path to the future be filled joy and abundance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -------

-westward1969

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Italian Fans

 

(@gymnasticfanatic)

-Catherine

 

 

 

Jump off the beam, flip off the bars, follow your dreams and reach the stars. Congratulation Kyla, you had followed your dream,you don't only reach the stars, you had became a star!! Congratulation Kyla, Happy Birthday for your sixteen B-day.

-La Ester

 

(@tidez)

 

-Berlyn

 

(@lovethefiercefive)

 

(@kendalia15)

(@fiercefivegymnast)

 

 

-Zoe

 

-Titus

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM TRIPLE TWIST!!!

Gymnastics news for the week!

Sabrina Vega switches gyms

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

2011 World team medalist, Sabrina Vega has switched gyms and will now be training at GAGE Gymnastics in Blue Springs, Missouri. Sabrina was rumored to be training at GAGE for a few weeks in preparation for the Kansas City tour stop, but it appears she will be training there now! (Although it has yet to be publicly confirmed by Sabrina herself.) The reason for the gym switch is currently unknown.

Elizabeth Price gets 2 World Cup assignments

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

2012 Olympic team alternate, Elizabeth Price has secured herself two World Cup opportunity's. The first being the Stuttgart World Cup on December 1-2 and the second being the Glasglow World Cup on December 8th!

2nd Tour planned for Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

Fierce 5 members, Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman have the 2013 Teen Choice Tour planned for January and February. Rumor has it that Gabby Douglas might possibly join them. Right now the tour is still being planned and although nothing is official, the tour is rumored to include cheerleading and gymnastics. 

Gabby Douglas named Sports Women of the Year

(Photo Credit: USA Today)

Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and Nastia Liukin joined several of the greatest female athletes in New York on October 17th. The night ended well for Olympic Champ Gabby Douglas who was named "Sports Women of the Year." Congrats Gabby! 

Gymnasts turning senior in 2013.

Below is a list of girls who competed as juniors at last years national championships and will be turning senior this year! Meet your new field of senior gymnasts!

Katelyn Ohashi

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

Gym: WOGA

Biggest Accomplishment: 2011 Junior National Champ

Best Event: Beam

Places To Upgrade: Vault

Realistic Goal: 2013 World Medalist

Describing Word: Precise

Watch Katelyn on: Beam

             

Lexie Priessman

(Photo Credit: Scott & Emer Hults)

Gym: Cincinnati Gymnastics

Biggest Accomplishment: 2012 Junior National Champ

Best Event: Vault

Upgrades: 

Bars: Saposh half, piked tkachev, and a stalder piked hecht.  

Beam: Front pike and a back handspring back handspring laid out full to a back handspring. 

Floor: I just got a new floor routine that I'm excited to compete. I'm working on a layout full in and a 1 1/2 to full in. 

Goals: "To place in the top 3 at championships as a senior and make the 2013 Worlds team." 

Describing Word: Energetic

Watch Lexie on: Vault

            

Maddie Desch

(Photo Credit: Lloyd Smith)

Gym: GAGE

Biggest Accomplishment: 2nd All Around at 2012 Junior Nationals
Best Event: Floor
Places To Upgrade: Vault, Uneven Bars
Realistic Goal: 2013 World Team Member
Describing Word: Elegant
Watch Madison on: Floor

Simone Biles

(Photo Credit: Lloyd Smith)

Gym: Bannon's Gymnastix

Biggest Accomplishment: 2012 Covergirl Classic Champion

Best Event: Vault and Floor

Upgrades:  

Vault: A 2nd vault 

Bars: Working on a piked tkachev and a ray.  

Beam: Standing arabian and a full in dismount.  

Floor: A double double, piked double arabian, a full 1/2 to full in, and a full in lay. 

Goals: "To make the Worlds team and do good!"

Describing Word: Powerful

Watch Simone on: Floor and Vault

Peyton Ernst

(Photo Credit: Melissa Perenson)

Gym: Texas Dreams

Biggest Accomplishment: 7th All Around at 2012 Junior Nationals

Best Event: Beam

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: 2013 Senior National Team

Describing Word: Flexible

Watch Peyton on: Beam

Ariana Guerra

(Photo Credit: Heather Maynez)

Gym: Texas Dreams

Biggest Accomplishment: 2nd All Around at the 2010 Top Gym

Best Event: Floor

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: 2013 National Team Member

Describing Word: Powerful

Watch Ariana on: Floor

  Alexis Beucler

(Photo Credit: Heather Maynez)

Gym: Cincinnati Gymnastics

Biggest Accomplishment: 13th at 2012 Junior Nationals

Best Event: Beam

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: 2013 National Team Member

Describing Word: Sharp

Watch Alexis on: Beam

  Amanda Huang

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

Gym: Northwind Gymnastics

Biggest Accomplishment: 15th all around at the 2012 Junior Nationals

Best Event: Floor

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: 2013 National Team

Describing Word: Clean

Watch Amanda on: Floor

Nicole Lehrman

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

Gym: Capital Gymnastics

Biggest Accomplishment: 2012 Comaneci Invitational Champion

Best Event: Beam

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: Have a strong meet All Around at Nationals

Describing Word: Careful

Watch Nicole on: Beam

  Shannon Mcnatt

(Photo Credit: Heather Maynez)

Gym: Stars Gymnastics

Biggest Accomplishment: 6th all around at the 2012 American Classic

Best Event: Floor

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: Have a strong AA performance at Nationals

Describing Word: Flexible

Watch Shannon on: Floor

  Jessica Wang

(Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics)

Gym: Winners Gymnastics

Biggest Accomplishment: 2nd all around at the 2012 American Classic

Best Event: Beam

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere
Realistic Goal: 2013 National Team
Describing Word: Precise
Watch Jessica on: Beam
             

  Other girls who turn senior who didn't compete at nationals last year:

Madison Kocian

(Photo Credit: Ruth Judson)

Gym: WOGA

Biggest Accomplishment: 5th all around at the 2010 Junior Nationals

Best Event: Floor
Places to Upgrade: Everywhere
Realistic Goal: Stay healthy and make 2013 National Team.
Describing Word: Sharp
Watch Madison on: Floor

  Macy Toronjo

(Photo Credit: Ruth Judson)

Gym: Texas Dreams

Biggest Accomplishment: 3rd all around at the 2012 Texas Prime meet

Best Event: Beam

Places to Upgrade: Everywhere

Realistic Goal: 2013 National Team

Describing Word: Powerful

Watch Macy on: Floor

         

One to watch: Jordan Chiles

Here's a name you might want to remember: Jordan Chiles. At just 11 years old, Jordan is already training some big skills like a 3 1/2 twist on the tumble track (watch here) and a triple twist dismount off beam. When a video of her was posted on tumblr, the gymternet went crazy and couldn't believe what they saw from this talented young girl. Her routines are unique and well performed for her age! It's a shame she's 9 months too young for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Photo Credit: BLP Studios L.L.C

Jordan lives in Oregon and trains at Naydenov Gymnastics with her coaches Erika Bakacs and Dimitri Taskov. She trains around 32 hours a week and is working hard to qualify elite for the 2013 season. Read our interview with Jordan below.

Triple Twist: How did you get started in gymnastics? 

Jordan: "I couldn't stop cartwheeling down the isles of stores or walking on my hands! I had a lot of energy so my dad and mom took me to Naydenov Gymnastics and everything started from there." 

Triple Twist: Who are some of your role models? Is there anybody in particular that you look up to?

Jordan: "I really only have one. I go to church, so I really look up to Jesus and how he loved people. In gymnastics, probably Gabby Douglas but I really like Nadia Comeneci." 

Triple Twist: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment so far?

Jordan: "My new elite beam routine! It's massive and fun. Also my front triple to front full!" 

                              
                       

Triple Twist: What's your favorite event and why?

Jordan: "All of them because each one has something I love."

Triple Twist: You have been training a lot of big skills, what one was the hardest to learn?

Jordan: "Well really, the double arabian. It wasn't hard once I got it and I got it pretty fast, but my mind had to think of things differently. I just had to make my mind understand it."

Triple Twist: What's your favorite part about gymnastics?

Jordan: "Being around my friends and being able to do things that other people cant....like fly!"

Triple Twist: What's one thing that most people don't know about you?

Jordan: "That's a hard one! I play clarinet."

Triple Twist: Have you ever had an embarrassing moment during competition?

Jordan: "Oh yes! The most embarrassing was probably when I went to do my leap series on floor and my toe caught the carpet and I tripped!"

Triple Twist: While competing, how do you control your nerves?

Jordan: "I talk to myself in my mind. I say "Jordan you got this, it's just like practice" I also remember what my dad says to me before every competition, "Do your best and forget the rest." My coaches also help me breathe and shake my body before I go up."

Triple Twist: What are your goals for this season and for the future?

Jordan: "This season is to hit my new beam routine perfect and hit every handstand on bars. For the future, is to be an Olympic champion."

Thank you Jordan and family! Good luck this season!

Photo Credit: Team Photo

Click here to view Jordan's website

Click here to view Jordan's YouTube videos

Interview done by: Ashlee

Quick Chat with Level 10 gymnast Sydney McGlone

Sydney McGlone is a 15 year old level 10 gymnast who competes for Universal Gymnastics in Hilliard, Ohio. In the 2012 gymnastics season, Sydney earned the title of state champion on bars, beam, floor, and in the all around. She also won the Circle of Stars meet, which qualified her to compete in the 2012 Nastia Liukin Cup! While training 21 hours a week, Sydney still manages to keep school a priority. She is currently a sophomore in high school and boasts a 4.0440 GPA! We caught up with Sydney to talk about her plans for this season and beyond!

Triple Twist: What would you consider your biggest accomplishment to be so far in your career?

Sydney: I'd have to say making Nationals this past year. I had never made it to Nationals before and I knew I had something to prove because the year before I was coming off an injury.

Triple Twist: How cool was it to be one of the few competitors competing at the 2012 Nastia Cup? Was it difficult for you to adjust to being on a podium, in front of cameras and a bigger audience?

Sydney: I LOVED the Nastia cup! The lights were a little hard to adjust to, but the equipment wasn't much different. It was such an amazing experience and I hope I can go again next year!

Triple Twist: What advice did Nastia give you before the meet?

Sydney: Nastia told us to go out there and have fun. She said that we had already made this far and competing was supposed to be fun. She also gave us some tips on how to relax our nerves and do our very best!

Triple Twist: What are your goals for the upcoming season?

Sydney: My goals are to be healthy, go to the Nastia Cup and Nationals again, and hopefully commit by the end of the year!

Triple Twist: Are you planning on upgrading any of your routines?

Sydney: I'm keeping most of my routines the same except my bars is a little different. I'm adding more transitions (toe on handstand to giant full to bale to uphill!) and I've added a double pike in my new floor routine!

Triple Twist: What is your favorite and least favorite thing about being a gymnast?

Sydney:  My favorite thing is definitely the thrill of competition. I'm such a hardcore competitor and I love making friends but being able to be that top dog when it comes time. My least favorite thing? Time!! I wish there was either less training or more hours in the day. I know it all pays off but sometimes it's so long!

Triple Twist: How do you keep yourself motivated when training gets tough?

Sydney: Good question! I think I always try to remind myself of my purpose in gymnastics, which is to achieve my greatest goals and work for that little girl that fell in love with the sport when I was 3. Sometimes I need a break and ill take it if times are too hard, but I just push myself. I'm a perfectionist!

Triple Twist: What gymnast(s) do you look up to and why?

Sydney: So many. I really look up to Aly Raisman and Alicia Sacramone. They are so fierce and work so hard for what they want and they accomplish it. I think they're awesome. But of course there is Jordyn , who I used to be in the same group for camps with for 6 years. Just being able to say I worked out with her is a privilege!

Triple Twist: What is your favorite and least favorite event?

Sydney: My favorite event is floor! I love performing and I think of myself as a power gymnast. Tumbling is so much fun but I'm also really into the dance! It's the funnest to compete! My least favorite is bars. I've never liked bars. I used to have a mental block on dismounts and me (being so short!) I could never swing very well anyway. Not a bars fan!

Triple Twist: Are you interested in doing college gymnastics? Have you started looking at colleges yet?

Sydney: That is my ultimate goal. I love the concept of college gymnastics. I'm really looking at Georgia, LSU, Utah, Ohio State, and Nebraska. I've visited Georgia, OSU, and Utah. I LOVED Georgia but I visited with jay Clark so that's why I'm interested in LSU. 

Watch Sydney on floor at the 2012 Nastia Cup!

            

Sydney on vault at the 2012 JO Nationals

             

Click here to visit Sydney's website