Local Downers Grove North Student Makes Junior Olympic Gymnastics Dream Team

[Burr Ridge, Illinois] – Local Downers Grove North student and Big Gymnastics’ Level 10 gymnast, Kellie Flavin, age 18, just returned from a whirlwind experience at the Region 5 Gymnastics Championships where she qualified for the Junior Olympic Gymnastics Dream Team! The Dream Team will compete at Nationals on May 7th where gymnasts who placed in the top 7 of their age group in their region will come together to compete for the best in the country.

Flavin began competing in gymnastics at the age of 6 years and has risen through the levels to now be competing as a third year Level 10 gymnast! Being a senior, she was set on going to Nationals and was able to qualify “by not letting the pressure get to her,” she said. She started off the entire competition by being the first to compete on floor exercise. “It was intimidating, but I knew that my training had prepared me for this position,” said Flavin. With her scores increasing on each event, she was able to clinch the coveted position at Nationals with an All-Around score of 36.525. Flavin has overcome many setbacks and obstacles as a gymnast including injuries and surgeries and could not be more deserving of this accomplishment!

With Nationals being Flavin’s final meet in her USA Gymnastics club career, she is looking forward to a successful meet. “I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to compete at a meet of this magnitude and represent something bigger than myself,” she declared.

Flavin will continue her gymnastics career this fall at University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League pick, where she plans on majoring in Biology. She has received many scholarships including the Downers Grove Junior Women’s Club and Downers Grove North Parent’s Club scholarships. She is also a finalist for the Virgil and Katherine Campbell scholarship in which she will find out if she is the recipient later this spring.

BIG and her coaches are extremely proud of Flavin and all of her accomplishments in and out of the gym. She is a compassionate and caring person who in her free time is always helping others. In addition to practicing gymnastics 24 hours per week, not including competition hours, she runs a leadership training group for freshman and sophomores at Downers Grove North High School and volunteers at the local homeless shelter every week. “She has leadership skills beyond her years and was voted by her peers to be their team captain. Flavin has the abilities and talents to succeed under pressure while still motivating her teammates and being one of their role models,” said Kara Reid, BIG Gymnastics’ head coach.

BIG Gymnastics opened in 2014 and since then has had continuous State and Regional Champions, and National Qualifiers. For more information on BIG Gymnastics and their programs or to register for classes, please call 630-323-6244 or visit www.biggymnastics.com.

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