Gymnastic Champions Tour Inspires Local Athletes
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – From the London games to a Sacramento stage, it was all about the golden girls.
Friday night, crowds filed into Power Balance Pavilion to welcome Team USA's top performing gymnasts, including Gabby Douglas.
The seats were filled with little boys and girls excited about watching their heroes and role models on stage instead of on TV.
Right before their eyes, a dream becomes reality.
Douglas took the stage with her talents drawing in the loudest cheers and the most "ohs" and "ahs."
"I just really like her personality, her smile," said Charlie Anderson.
Douglas wasn't the only star of the show as the 2012 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions put on a big performance in Sacramento. It included the other women's team gold medal winners who helped the USA win their first Olympic title in women's gymnastics since 1996, and launched the sport into even higher demand.
"We've seen a huge, huge growth in our enrollment," said Amber Graupner, a local gymnastics coach.
Since the London Games, International Gymnastics Centre in West Sacramento is seeing an increase in new students and motivation.
"It's kind of kicked them in the butt to work harder. It's pretty cool," said Graupner.
Jody Brown's daughter has her hopes set for a future Olympic performance.
"She's very excited. She wants to be in the Olympics. She's working toward the best that she can," said Brown.
And who knows, maybe one day she will.
Many of the little fans will be dreaming of one day winning their own gold medal, and you can bet they'll be practicing.
The cast of the tour also included last year's men's and women's world champions.
Local gymnasts also got a chance to take part in the show.
