BYU gymnastics: Boon found her place at BYU
That one performance propelled Boon into nagging her parents for the next two years until they put her into a recreational gymnastics program. Now, Boon didn't just sit around waiting for those two long years until she could get professional training. No, she trained herself.
She started doing the basics, handstands, walkovers, cartwheels and anything else she could work on by herself. And along with talent, that prep work skipped her right through the rec program and into a competition group.
"I started in rec at the local club, and they had a handstand competition. I held it close to a minute," Boon said. Not only did she win the competition, they told her that she was in the wrong place and needed to be learning at a much faster rate.
"When I was younger I was very gutsy. I didn't know it was scary," she said, and noted that she never regretted pushing her parents into getting her into the gym because until she was 13, all the hours she spent preparing were just play. "We got to go and flip around all over the place. It was so much fun."
And, of course, after awhile, her favorite event became the vault, the same event that her hero had won the gold on so many years before.
"I just like the power," said Boon, who has been competing vault, floor and beam for BYU for years. At about the middle of last season, she added her least favorite event, bars, and now is the only Cougar competing in the all-around. The reason it took her so long to add bars to her events is that she had a tough time transitioning to the wider bar settings and kept missing the lower bar on her releases.
And now, just as she's getting a great bars routine together, her career is nearing its end, which is a bittersweet thought for the girl from New Zealand.
"At 24 my body is not what it used to be," Boon noted, adding that it is time she give her battered body a break from the tough sport. She's also looking forward to the freedom that comes from not having to be in the gym five hours every day.
"When you're doing gymnastics you can't wait until you're free to go play, but now I'm nervous because I'll have all that time and I have to find something to do to fill it. Finishing gymnastics is forcing me to get out of my comfort zone," she noted.
In getting out of that comfort zone, she wants to try anything and everything, including kickboxing and basketball, which, she notes, will help her to maintain her fitness level. Another activity she's really looking forward to learning is hip-hop dancing, which should go right along with her gymnastics training and obvious dancing ability on the floor exercise, which is another of her favorite apparatuses.
Recent comments
Hi I just found the article on Althea and wanted to know if anyone...
Steve Penman | May 26, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.
- Admiral warns of arms race in Asia 11:05 p.m.
- Solar pond expansion sparks comments 10:57 p.m.
- Restaurant destroyed by fire 10:57 p.m.
- Animals removed from filthy home 10:56 p.m.
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning 10:56 p.m.
- Report: Tabloid hacked voice mails 10:47 p.m.
- National news capsules 10:46 p.m.
- 25 killed, 13 children, in Afghan blast 10:46 p.m.
- Drowning risk greatest in summer 10:38 p.m.
- Schools may give kids swine flu shots 10:36 p.m.
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- Utah's top 10: Wealth of recreation
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Send Boozer to the Bulls?
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- O'Connor unhappy Fes not with team
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Keeping golf light on the wallet
- Fatigued Jazz no match for Pacers
- Teen injured in fall from waterfall
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
121 - 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
107 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
79 - Send Boozer to the Bulls?
76 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
71
Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan travelled to Europe over last...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
The recent Poly camp in Bountiful opened the eyes of recruiters to at...
my family was there to see the Jonas Brothers
Such a big and special moment for all those who attended, only to find out...
BYU will need to win it's last 4 games and Ventura County Fusion or LA...
Stadium of Fire is about making money. If you are critical you are said to be...
There goes another GM stock. Then again, who cares about the little...
ITS GOOD THEY HAVE A GOOD MANAGER LIKE STEVE WOOD WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY...
Keep in mind what the Jazz paid Okur - a guy who didn't hit 10 points per...
I agree with "Correction" at 10:17 a.m. Neil Armstrong insists that his first...
Re Okur: Disagree with #s 3,4,5,7 and 8. Don't underestimate our guys....
They used that "stomach exploding' myth with both Fizzies and Pop Rocks.



