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Gandy jumps at berth on United States team
By Mary Madewell
Published November 2, 2009
Elite gymnast Sarah Gandy leaves for Russia on Saturday for senior World Championship competition.
A senior at North Lamar High School, Gandy left Paris on Sunday for Michigan where she will train with other members of the United States team at the World Championship Camp before departing for Russia to compete Nov. 11-14 in double mini-trampoline competition.
Gandy was honored at a recent send-off event by Paris Mayor Jesse Freelen for her accomplishments as he proclaimed the young gymnast “an outstanding citizen of Paris.”
“I, Jesse Freelen, do hereby ask all citizens of Paris to join me in honoring this citizen for her outstanding accomplishments and contribution to our community,” Freelen read from a proclamation listing her achievements.
The proclamation not only recognized Gandy for her athletic accomplishments but for her academic accomplishments and her community service contributions as well.
Gandy overcame several challenges to make the United States team, one being a serious ankle injury in September 2008.
“She had a long rehab course and was given the option of either having surgery or putting up with the pain, said her mother, Lisa Gandy, who along with husband, Bill Gand,y coaches their daughter at the Texas Tumbling & Trampoline Institute, 4820 Lamar Ave.
“She chose to deal with the pain so that she would have a chance to make it to the World Championships,” Lisa Gandy said.
To make the United States team, a gymnast must earn points at three competitions — The Elite Challenge, Visa Championships and at a final selection event. Points are earned according to how the athletes place in each competition. The top competitors automatically make the United States team.
Gandy took second position and is the youngest member on the team. The gymnast has been competing nationally and internationally since 2005 with her first big international win coming at the 2008 Cup of Flanders double mini competition in Ghent, Belgium.
She picked up her first national title in synchronized trampoline competition at the 2007 Nationals Championships in Memphis, Tenn. She repeated in 2008 with a first in double minis at the U.S. Elite Challenge in Mobile, Ala. and a first in double minis at the 2008 Visa Championships in Houston.
This year, she won the Visa Championships in Dallas, came in third at the U.S. Elite Challenge in Fort Smith, Ark. and took a second place in the Final Selection Event for World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.
In addition to her gymnastic performance, Gandy currently ranks second in her class at North Lamar.
At First Baptist Church, Gandy participated in goody boxes for soldiers and directed a toy drive for Galveston children, victims of Hurricane Ike. She is a member of the Beta Club at North Lamar where she has helped with canned food drives. In addition, Gandy tutors special needs children.
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