South Jersey Gymnasts Have Big Olympic Dreams
By John McDevitt
MAPLE SHADE, N.J. (CBS) - A group of local girls with dreams of competing in the Olympics one day are working hard and are inspired by the gold medal winning U.S. Gymnastics team.
At TNT Gymnastics in Maple Shade, girls from ages seven to 18 are involved in the USA Olympics junior program.
"And this is how they come up the line and this is the kind of team program where they get to where they are going to what you are watching on television today," coach and co-founder Todd Weiss says.
Zaakira Muhammad, 15, of Pennsauken is at the highest level in the program and a national champion. She looks up to Gabby Douglas on the U.S. Olympic team.
"She's really good and has a real good personality and stuff. She is my idol."
Katelyn McBride, 15, of Moorestown is glad she knows the outcome of the Olympic event before she sees it on TV in the evening.
"But I get really nervous watching for some reason, so I like to know they did OK and they won. It just makes it better otherwise I just sit on the edge of my seat like 'don't fall don't do it' but other than that I'm good as long as I know they won it's OK."
