Competitive gymnastics is physically demanding and requires countless hours of practice and hard work. 11 year old Jasmine Jones of Carolina Forest has made great strides in a short time reaching one of the top levels in competitive gymnastics. Jones, who trains at Ultimate Gymnastics Academy in Myrtle Beach, has reached Level 9. Competitive gymnastics range from Level Four through Elite. Level 10 is for college caliber and Elite Level is Olympic caliber.
World of Gymnastics: Explaining competitive levels in Gymnastics
This weekend, Jones is competing in her first Level 9 Regional Meet in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jones qualified for the competition by finishing fourth in South Carolina's Level 9 state championships in Beaufory on March 26th. Jones finished 2nd in the bar and beam along with a 3rd place in the vault and 4th on the floor. The three gymnasts who finished ahead of Jasmine were all older:
Jasmine Jones scores in competition
Jasmine says bars are her favorite apparatus and would like to compete in the Olympics. But her primary goal is to get a full Division I scholarship to the University of Georgia. Jones is coached by Lauren Foxworth and Ric Wagner. Wagner has coached Olympic gymnasts and is impressed with Jones dedication. She puts in four hours a day five days a week of practice in addition to competitions. Jasmine is an honor roll student at Ocean Bays Middle School.
