That Surprising All-aroumd!

Jr. Jungle Challenge

3rd/Last Competition for WAG Level 2 Age 9yo +

It's been an interesting journey, as our little gymnast faced this WAG Level 2 stage of her gymnastic life. The first competion, Chinese New Year Challenge (Home), was gut-wrenching --as it's our first time for this level. The second competition, Milton's Springer Challenge, was a confirmation of her skill set. And the third competition, Jr. Jungle Challenge, was a test of her strength and weaknesses. These are her Level 2 scores for all three competitions.

This competitive world is a revelation to Khloe, and even to us, her parents. It's a totally different environment from the PreComp last year. All these kids are still young to feel the pressure and the tension of competing, yet, it's already there. It's in the air, no matter how much the parents would deny it. And it's still surreal for me and my husband, as we are still in this oblivion that we are still in here for Khloe's joy. 

But still, reality bites. The other parents could actually drag you into this competitive mode. Then,  you find yourself checking out the real-time scores online. Then, you find yourself holding your breath everytime they start the dismount. Then, you check out the standing online. Then, you get scared of that 9.800 because somebody could still do better. Then, somebody beat that score and you lost hope on the over-all. Then your athelete screwed up on the bars. Fell off on the beam. Screwed up on the floor. Messed up on the vault. And finally... you started adding up the scores. And realized -- she hit that 37.000 + threshold again!! And you prayed Thank You. For her safety. For her good scores.

This has been the story of our lives the past few months since competition started. We came into this journey all blind. No expectations. No clue of what Khloe can do. Then, she pulled out all these medals since Day1. Gold. Silver. Bronze. She even had a certificate for Most Confident on Beam. At first.. we thought it's just a one-time achievement. But she pulled another sets of medals for the next competition. And another set of medals for her last competition. And what she can't believe is garnering that Gold/First Place medal for All-around on her last competition. It was her best triumph for this year. She was pretty proud of herself. 

All-around is  a huge deal. We realized that towards the end. The score kind of define your skill set, of where you are on all of these 4 events. It made Khloe realized that consistency is needed from her. That she has to stay on her game on every event, and try her best everytime. And she proved herself once more, that she can do it, even if that means not being first place on any/if not most or all of the events

This journey has taught Khloe a lot. She grew up so much, not just as an athlete, but as a girl who is determined to stay on the top of her game. This is notwithstanding the other activities she's into: acro, ballet & Math Club Classes; and consistent straight A's on her report card. Her gymnastics strength balances out the sensetive Khloe that she is, emotional, tearful & soft-hearted. 

It's a humbling experience for her and for us. Whether or not she'll continue,  is all up to her. But one thing is for sure, there's no pot of gold at the end of her rainbow, if she cannot weather the storm, first and foremost.

An Athlete's Mom

I am writing this as a poignant reflection of the recent bus crash carrying  #HumboldtBroncos Jr. Hockey Team, taking away 10 athlete's lives, their coach and 4 others. Our family may not be a hockey family, but we are in deep mourning of this tragedy. We are, first and foremost, a Canadian Family in part, an Athlete's Family and a family who loves hockey. We are sending our sincere condolences to all the bereaved family and friends. As a mom, I am sending all my spiritual strength to all the bereaved moms who are going through this loss.

I can't imagine the pain, the deep sorrow, the anguish of these athletes' moms, or of all the moms who went through a loss like this. Or of ANY mom who went through a loss of a child.

As a mom of a competitive gymnast for more than a year now, I still have trepidation everytime Khloe goes to train for gymnastics, or competes on a bar or the beam events. Same trepidation I felt when I saw that victorious smile on her face when she tried an assisted cartwheel at 3y.o. on her first gymnastics class. And I think most, if not all, moms can attest to this, that there will always be THAT feeling, be the child an athlete or not. Maybe, just a different level of trepidation for an athlete's mom.

For those travelling athletes,  whose parents cannot come with them all the time, that waiting-period of parents for their athletes to be home is always heart-pounding. A game's WIN is nothing compared to that heart-warming embrace a child can give to their parents. Knowing that they are home, in your arms, is the GOLD or the WINNING TROPHY  any athlete can give to their parents. And for those parents who are with their athletes during training or competition: the simple fact of bringing their athletes home, all in piece -- with no broken bones, is way, way more important than winning medals or trophies. As parents and as moms, this is our ultimate wish.

Personally, my bitter-sweet surrender for Khloe to go competitive is a journey by itself. As a mom, I was so torn on whether or not to sign her. The invitation for her to join the ODP program was so fast, leaving us a whirlwind of chaotic adjustments on our schedules and individual lives. All my trepidation was set aside, to let me focus on how to organized our crazy-enough scheduled lives. UNTIL competition hit. Until I saw her swinging on the bars. Up on the beam. That rotten feeling came back again. Got worst when after a year, she levelled up to Women's Artistic Gymnastic proper. When the swinging on the bar gets harder. When the choreography on the beam gets tougher. When the scoring is not about how pretty they are doing the skills, but by how many errors and deduction they would do instead. As Khloe's mom, I hold my breath everytime she is up on the bar, or on the beam. I might be holding my camera, but my heart is pounding and hoping that she won't fall and hurt herself. I am first and foremost her mom. And I will feel this way forever.

Hence, I have very HIGH respect for those moms of every athletes who do sports that have more physical contact with others, or more dangerous than Khloe's gymnastics. I always believe that what we all feel is the same. Our fears are the same. Our hopes and wishes are the same.

We just want our child to be safe, be that on triumphs and or losses!
We will forever support what they love!
We will forever pray for their safety!
We are a parent!
We are a mom!

A Taste of Gold

Our little gymnast.

This morning was Khloe's first competition for Women's Artistic Gymnastic, Compulsory A, Age 9, Level 2 . She exceeded expectations. She blew us away. She was incredible. Today is one for the books. 

She started this gymnastics journey with no clue of what a competitive world is like. All she know is that she loves gymnastics. She started at 4y.o. for a Spring and Summer session with Club Jump (Recreational gymnastics only). Just for a try. She was excited then, because that year, they don't offer Acro Class for her age, at her dance school. Gymnastics captured her heart. However, she chose to take ballet and acro for Fall. So gymnastics was pushed again for every Spring and Summer. 

Then, Gymnastics Energy, a club for both recreational and competitive gymnastics, moved closer to the heart of the city. This was in 2016, when Khloe was 7 y.o. I've been wanting to register Khloe here because of good feedback, especially with training. I wanna see how far Khloe will go. 

So Spring of 2016, she started in Gymnastics Energy. After her first session with Sr. Rec. Girls, she was advised to do the Summer Session to prepare for a test, so as to be considered for Mini Stars/Interclub, their feeder program for competitive gymnastics. Khloe took the Summer Session, and did the test. Just like that, she was asked to register for Mini-Stars (a younger group for 4-6y.o., as her skills are not as strong enough for Interclub). She started the Fall with Mini-Stars, and come October, she got invited to train for Pre-Comp as part of the ODP (Ontario Development Program) come November.

It was whirlwind. I was hesitant at first, because being part of the competitive program is double the hours of a recreational, and double the cost as well. It also involves parent-volunteer hours and fundraising campaign. We have to think twice. Khloe was nervous, too. The thought of competition scared the heck out of her. But it is such a sweet invitation. Khloe was so proud of herself to be invited, given that she's only been  with the club for 6 months. 

November 2016 started the whole parade of crazy schedules that left our lives up side down. The fact that she is not a strong athlete yet, and training so late, the first competition coming January 2017 is like a storm looming. But Khloe, the trooper that she is, trained like a pro, molded her skinny built into this rigorous world of gymnastics. 

Come January 2017 competition, ODP level, and she surprised us with an All-around Silver. Second competition gave her another Silver for All-around, and her 3rd competition finally landed her with an All-around Gold. This is depite preparing for a recital for Ballet and Acro, which happened two days before her last competition. 

And just because Khloe is into the competitive world, her outlook in life changed. NOPE. She still still the same Khloe. She even added swimming into our crazy schedule. She even managed to get the most coveted academic award in school year end -- Literacy Award for her grade. This is a back-to-back award for her every year end. She still managed to maintain her straight As. 

So as a treat, we had a weekend-getaway to the Big Apple, New York City. This is our treat for her, as she added the Eye of the Tiger Award for the Yearend Banquet of Gymnastics Energy on the top of her academic award. 

Only to come back for another 4 weeks of Compulsory Gymnastics Camp for the Summer. No rest there, indeed. But I think, once an athlete, always an athlete. The 2 extra weeks she rested away from training, which she filled with a STEM camp and a Robotics Camp. More brains, no training is NO good for a gymnast, that Khloe can't wait to be back for Fall. 

September 2017 Fall started.. and we ended up with this first competition today. No qualms, no expectations.. Khloe surprised us today with:

Gold - Vault

Gold - Beam

Bronze - Bars

7th - Floor 

Bronze - All-around!

Special Award - "Most Confident On Beam".

Totally surprised... it took us moments and back at home before it all sunk in. Our very own, Khloe Chantalle, got herself some GOLD!!

You gotta be kidding me? But surely those Gold Medals are real. 

We are so proud of this patootie.. and we are so happy to see that proud smile on her face. 

Aim high...hold on to your dreams.

That Podium, with no. 1 on it, was just once a dream for her. Today, she was on it..not once, but twice.

Can't be any prouder!