Salt Lake City struck gold Thursday with a visit from some of the Fierce Five, the 2012 US Olympic gymnastics team, and other gymnasts performing at the Kellogg’s Tour of Champions.
Salt Lake City was one of the 40 stops and some BYU students attended the show. In addition to helping fans relive the moment they won gold, BYU gymnastic coaches and gymnasts believe it will have further reaching effects.
In a news release, Steve Penny, the president of USA gymnastics said the Kelloggs Tour of Champions is a celebration of gymnastics.
“It provides the perfect stage for Americans to celebrate and welcome our Olympians home from winning six medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, including the women’s team, all-around and floor exercise gold, as well as the balance beam bronze medal, in addition to recognizing many of our Olympic and world medalists,” Penny said in the news release.
Liz Merrill, a junior studying human development, attended the event and said it was inspiring to be there with the athletes.
“I loved seeing the Olympic gymnasts in person, it is so amazing to see everything they can do,” Merrill said. “I really felt like them coming and touring the country, and being able to see them live was like I was able to share in the moment they won the gold.”
Dawn Cattermole, assistant coach of the BYU gymnastics team, said along with being exciting for the country, the gold medal and the gymnasts touring helps boost gymnastics as a sport.
“It helps gymnastics everywhere, it increases visibility for our sport, it shows how tough the athletes are,” Cattermole said. “There is such a big time commitment; it really gives you a big appreciation for the gymnasts on the BYU team.”
Krysten Koval, a former BYU gymnast, also said the US winning the gold and now touring will help the sport grow.
“Gymnastics is a lesser known sport, except for when the Olympics come around and everyone freaks out and they love to watch it,” Koval said. “I think the team touring is great, I think that it will help the sport grow and peak other budding gymnasts’ interests.”
As a gymnast, Koval said she loves to see gymnasts who work hard be successful.
“It’s so happy to see them so successful because gymnastics is a sport that constantly tells you what you can’t do, it constantly tells you how imperfect you are, and so I think it’s really awesome when you see them have success,” she said.
