Community News
Local gymnast wins award at UGA camp.
By BleckleyProgress.com contributor.
Jul 27, 2021, 11:34

Lily Smith, daughter of Jamie and Nicole Smith, appears to be your typical nine-year-old. She is looking forward to school starting soon and being in the fourth grade.

But there is something not so typical about Lily. Say the word ‘gymnastics,’ and you go from a Lily the girl with blonde hair to Lily the gymnast.

Lily has been in gymnastics since she was four years old, though she did do a year of tumbling when she was two. Her mom, Nicole said, “She didn’t act interested, so I took her out, but then two years later, she begged to get back in, and has not stopped since.”

Her favorite skills she has learned include: on the floor, a round off, backhand spring, on the beam, back tuck, on the bars, giants on strap bar, and on the vault, the Yurchenko Flip.

And when you see her do them. You will be like in awe.

“I like doing the back tuck on the beam because when I stick it, I feel like I can accomplish anything.” Lily said

Then she added that she really likes to do “the Yurchenko flip on the vault because I feel like I am flying, and then any floor skills because I feel so free.”

Lily trains at Precision South Gymnastics Academy, Nicole said. “It is a gym that specializes in all four apparatuses with a coach for each.”

According to Nicole, “Lily has advanced from level three to level six in a year.”

Lily’s skills have gained her some recognition. Nicole explained, “She received the GymDawg award at a camp at the University of Georgia, out of all the campers present.”

She continued, “We are surprised by her love of the sport, she practices even on her days off.”

Lily’s goal is to be an Olympic gymnast. That dream makes sense since Lily’s hobbies are all about gymnastics. “Gymnastics, gymnastics, gymnastics and more gymnastics, that is all,” she said she enjoys doing.

Lily’s favorite gymnast is Simone Biles. “Because she is the G.O.A.T.,” Lily said.


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