Oklahoma senior Allie Stern is widely recognized as one of the top vaulters on one of the top vaulting teams in the country, notching a perfect 10 in the first meet of the 2022 season. She’s also the younger sister of Lexi, an accomplished gymnast in her own right.
Their mother, Patricia, enrolled both of her young daughters in recreational gymnastics classes at a YMCA in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Allie progressed quickly and eventually joined the team before moving to another gym in the area. However, that wasn’t an option for Lexi, and so she had to quit gymnastics. Though she participated in numerous other sports during the following years, she still wanted the same opportunities as Allie.
“That did bother me that she couldn’t keep doing gymnastics because that’s what she really wanted to do,” Patricia said. It would be several years before another chance would present itself.
“Lexi was involved in cheer because that was the closest thing to gymnastics that was available,” Patricia said. “The woman in charge of that also had a daughter with special needs who wanted to be involved in gymnastics. She knew that Allie would help her coach, so she was the one who ended up starting a team [through Special Olympics Mecklenburg County].”
Despite being a veteran gym mom by that point, Patricia recalls “almost crying” at Lexi’s first competition. “It was such a long time coming, and I was just thrilled! I’d been so sad that she couldn’t do it,” Patricia said.
“And I got to do it!” Lexi added.
“And it was just so wonderful.”
Since the team’s inception nearly six years ago, Lexi, like her sister, has earned numerous gymnastics medals, which she loves to show off. She was even selected to compete at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, an experience Lexi describes as awesome, particularly since she got a “special fancy leo” just for the competition.
Lexi’s training and meet schedule have been understandably inconsistent the past two years due to the COVID pandemic, but Patricia is optimistic that she’ll be able to compete later this spring and possibly even unveil some new skills on bars.
Anyone familiar with the sport knows of the risk of injury at the highest levels. However, pediatric physical therapist Melissa Seward notes that Special Olympics gymnastics has numerous health benefits for its athletes.
“Gymnastics can help improve muscle strength, balance, gross motor coordination, endurance, body awareness and motor planning,” Seward said. “Additionally, the Special Olympics provides a safe, nurturing and encouraging environment where athletes with different abilities can participate and thrive instead of being a spectator.”
Seward has long advocated for accessibility in sports and recently co-founded Platypus Adventures, a Greenville, South Carolina, non-profit that sponsors and facilitates adaptive sporting events for children and young adults, including Tri My Best.
“I frequently recommend my patients participate in community-based programs—including gymnastics, martial arts and the Special Olympics—to supplement clinic-based services,” Seward said. “The more these families are involved in community activities, the easier it is for them to continue living healthy lifestyles. It’s always easier to keep moving when you have friends doing it with you.”
Allie has seen those benefits firsthand, both as a coach and a sister.
“So often the focus is on how [the gymnasts] are different or what they can’t do, so to get a chance to shine is really important in developing confidence,” she said. “They also love and support each other a lot, just like we do in college gym.”
Until she’s able to resume coaching after college, Allie hopes to use her platform to shine a spotlight on Special Olympics gymnastics for fans. “The gymternet is obviously a big deal in the sport, so [Special Olympics gymnasts] having that kind of support, too, would be great.”
As the parent of two adult gymnasts still active in the sport, Patricia appreciates the positive impact gymnastics has had on both of her daughters. “I’ve seen Allie and Lexi really determined to get a new skill, I could just see them working towards that goal,” said Patricia. “I think it teaches them a lot. It certainly teaches how to strive for something. ”
You can find more information about the Special Olympics and how to support its athletes and events here.
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Article by Claire Billman
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