Brown raising the bar
By Eric Taylor
Leader sports editor
As a toddler living in Panama, there wasn’t a lot for Chelsie Brown to do as far as athletics.
“Gymnastics was about the only thing to do as a 3-year old,” Brown said.
Nearly 14 years later, gymnastics still plays a major role in the life of Brown, who will be a senior at Bellevue East this fall.
She has ascended to a Level 9 gymnast and has visions on reaching Level 10 (the highest level) her senior year.
“The only way you can qualify for nationals is to be a Level 10 gymnast,” she said.
Brown moved to Bellevue before the start of first grade. She quickly got involved with the Omega School for Gymnastics in Papillion, which has been her training ground ever since.
A big portion of her life has been spent on the bars, or the mat, or the vault. During the school year, she spends more than three hours in the gym four days a work. That number bumps to five days a week during the summer.
“You can get tired, but I’ve never been burnt out,” Brown said. “If I start to get burnt out, I just take a day off.”
The competitive gymnastics season runs from December through April. Brown had her best season yet this past year, advancing to both regional and western meets in the All-Around. (Western is the highest level Brown is eligible to compete in.)
Four events comprise the All-Around (floor exercise, vault, uneven bars and beam) and gymnasts will also compete as an individual in those four events.
Brown considers the floor and the vault as her stronger events while she looks to improve her score on the bars.
“They’re hard because it’s all technique,” Brown said. “But it is my favorite event because you can really fly.”
Flying can result in disastrous landings and although she has fractured both of her feet over the years, she has been able to escape other serious injuries.
“Everything happens so fast, but you have to be ready to go full speed or you will get hurt,” Brown said.
Brown is also a cheerleader at East, although she is careful to not incorporate too many of her gymnastics moves into her cheer routines.
“My gymnastics coaches aren’t too crazy about me doing flips on a hard surface,” she said.
Brown hopes a big year in 2010-11 can vault her to a collegiate career.
“There are so many opportunities at schools of all divisions,” she said. “I think I have a good chance.”
Brown has dedicated much of her life to gymnastics and is proud to be involved in an activity that is unique to so many.
“I like it because it sets me apart from other athletes,” she said. “I think that’s cool.”
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