Eight Vincentian gymnasts to travel to US competition

The newly formed gymnastics team of Dolphin Gymnastics and Health Academy will compete in the USA on February 6, 2016 at the Houston National Invitational.

Zanthe Bascombe, Dakia Child, Abigail Deshong, Teya Garraway, Chiamaka Jackson, Jasmine McLawrence, Adiah Phillips and Saskia Truchot are the eight gymnasts who will compete in the USA as the country’s first gymnastics team.

“It is still hard to believe that these incredible young ladies were able to learn routines on each of the four Olympic gymnastics apparatus, in just under 3 months,” a release from the Academy said.

Their coach, LaPrise Harris-Williams, states…”the girls have increased their training hours considerably to prepare the skill sets needed to compete.”

Williams said she feels it is necessary for the athletes to compete internationally as a way to transcend socio-cultural differences and develop leadership skills and teamwork. She hopes the exposure of her St Vincent and the Grenadines team will help establish links with sports professionals and peers. To begin the process, coach LaPrise will link up with one of her long-time friends, Aimee Boorman, who is the coach of the most decorated female gymnast to date, three-time World Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles of World Champions Centre in Houston, Texas.

On February 4, the athletes from Dolphin Gymnastics will train with their coach at the World Champions Centre.

“This will be an invaluable experience and a privilege for my team,” Harris-Williams states.

Anyone interested in learning more about the sport can contact coach LaPrise at prisewill11@gmail.com or stop by Prospect Raquet Club Tuesday through Saturday to view the gym. Class times are 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday- Friday and 10 -11 a.m. on Saturday.