Local gymnast nabs national all-around crown
At 12 years old, Powell Middle School gymnast Jacqueline Jacobs recently achieved a lofty goal when she traveled to Chicago to compete in a national tournament.
At the IGI Chicago Style Gymnastic Invitational, which bills itself as ‘The Largest Women’s Gymnastic Meet in the World,’ Jacobs won the Level 9 all-around title against some of the finest talent in the country.
While winning a national title is important, for her father Mike Jacobs, what his daughter did is sort of mind-blowing.
“I really don’t know where her ability comes from, I know it’s not from me,” Jacobs said. “Doing this is something she really loves to do.”
Jacobs 101
Jacobs began her gymnastics career when she was 4 years old when she got a packet from the school for getting straight As.
“She had made the honor roll in school when they sent home a package of coupons and in it was a free lesson at a gymnastics class,” said Mr. Jacobs. “She went and fell in love with it and has been doing it ever since.”
Jacqueline’s normal day starts with classes at Powell Middle School that end at 1:30 p.m. Then she goes to Suncoast Gymnastics Academy where she trains five days a week with Coach Arnold Gwynn and his wife Cindy.
“Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday she trains from 2-7:30 p.m. and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays she trains from 3:30-7:30 p.m.,” said Mr. Jacobs.
Besides going to Powell and working at gymnastics, Jacobs also takes classes on-line with the Florida Virtual School and she gets straight As.
“Gymnastics is something she really wants to do and the amount of work she puts into it really amazes me,” Mr. Jacobs said.
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http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2010/feb/27/local-gymnast-nabs-national-all-around-crown/
