What started out as a recreational sports activity has turned into Olympic dreams for gymnast Sarah Finnegan.
The 15-year-old from Town and Country will be one of three alternates on the US Olympic womens gymnastics team at the upcoming London Games.
If any of the five gymnasts on the team gets hurt, then its possible Finnegan could move center stage. Shes currently training with the Olympic team in Houston, Texas, as if shell get the chance to compete. The team took off for London on July 19, and the opening ceremonies begin on July 27.
Finnegans story includes a six-year stint of training at the St. Louis Gymnastics Centre (SLGC) in Webster Groves, where her progression in the sport really began. She started participating in gymnastics at age three in Los Angeles, where she was born. A year later, her family moved to St. Louis. She spent a year at another gymnastics facility before her parents, Don and Linabelle Finnegan, moved Sarah and her three sisters to SLGC because it was closer to home.
In 2008, the Finnegan family realized Sarah had the talent and desire to compete at the highest level, but SLGC couldnt offer her the chance to become an Olympian. SLGCs goal is to produce college scholarships, not Olympic champions.
The Finnegans found an opportunity for Sarah to train for the Olympics at Great American Gymnastics Express in Blue Springs, Mo., which is known for producing Olympic competitors from coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong.
So, Sarah, her mother and three sisters, Hannah, 17, Jennah, 11, and Aleah, 9, also competitive gymnasts, moved across the state. Don, vice president of corporate operations for Enterprise Holdings, remained in St. Louis. He travels to Kansas City on the weekends and talks with his family on Apples Facetime. Don and the rest of the family will leave for London on July 26.
Don, a former All-American wrestler at Iowa State University in 1979 who was apart of the Cyclones 1977 NCAA champion squad, said his family is grateful for the SLGC coaches and opportunities his daughters had at the Webster Groves facility. Sarahs three sisters also competed and trained at the center.
The St. Louis Gymnastics Centre is a very good program, Don said. They provide a very competitive program. The coaches are very knowledgeable. Webster Groves is a great community. Sarah just had higher aspirations.
Interest in gymnastics has grown at the facility, said Amy King, Sarahs former coach at SLGC. Each class has a waiting list. King said SLGC trains more than 1,000 boys and girls, and shes currently training several girls who show signs of being able to compete at the highest level. King said Sarah had Olympic potential when she was her coach.
Im very excited for her, King said. Shes a soft-spoken, sweet girl. Shes very humble. Im very proud to have coached her. She always had natural ability. She just executed that ability. She just wanted more. Id love to say we taught her all that stuff. It turned out to be a very good move (to the Blue Springs center).
When Sarah moved on, she was competing at level eight. In 2010 and 2011, she competed in the junior division. By the start of 2012, Sarah was competing at the senior international level, which enabled her to compete for a spot on the Olympic team. She also was age-eligible for the Olympics by 50 days. In her senior international debut at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Jesolo, Italy, in March, she placed third overall. At the recent Olympic Trials in San Jose, Calif., she finished sixth overall. She also placed sixth at the Visa Championships in St. Louis in June.
Sarahs best events are on the balance beam and floor exercises. She doesnt let the huge crowds and noise distract her from performing ? just like her father when he competed at Iowa State. She shows the flexibility and agility ? just like her father did in wrestling.
She is very disciplined, very determined and very competitive, Don said. Shes so mentally tough. Shes just focused on what she has to do. Shes worked very hard for this. I just think she has God-given talent. Shes the youngest on the team and has the least amount of experience. Yet, she is still able to hang with the best.
King said she would like to see Sarah compete in London or maybe in the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro.
It brings chills and tears every time I watch her perform, she said. I look forward to seeing her the next four years.
Source: http://www.9tharkansas.org/2012/08/28/gymnast-sarah-finnegan-is-us-olympic-alternate/
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