"Gymnastics hopeful relieved to be in own gym" - http://www.oxfordpress.com/sports/content/shared/sports/stories/2007/GYM_BIEGER_0302_COX.html it's not really 'gym hopping' - it's with the same coach, her mom Andrea Bieger. [quote]Andrea Bieger, Jana's mother and coach and a three-time Olympian for Germany, simply says "an agreement" between Boca Twisters, Jana's old gym, and its affiliate, American Twisters in Coconut Creek, left the Biegers out of both gyms. "I couldn't understand this, coming back from Worlds and not having any gym anymore as the world silver champion," Andrea says. A message left for a spokesman of the gyms was not returned, but Thursday, the issue became moot. Jana felt like she landed on Park Avenue as her family opened Bieger International Gymnastics in Deerfield Beach: 23,000 square feet, five minutes from their home in Coconut Creek. The start, they hope, of something B.I.G.[/quote] weird that Boca Twisters / its affiliate, American Twisters in Coconut Creek wouldn't want an elite gymnast that just got lots of medals practice at their gym - seems like it would be free advertising and attention in media, that would be good for business. they come off bad in this light. [quote]"In our gym, she is No. 1," Andrea says. "Our gym is big enough that she really will not be disturbed due to other classes."[/quote] that idea isn't good for club business for sure...the remark about the size of the gym being so big implies the other classes won't be sacrificed by her training being put first, but still....bad wording there. it does happen in gymnastics clubs - the elite gymnast comes first, others have to wait for her - like a while back ago Tasha's Schwikert's coach was talking about how she wants Tasha to take her gymnastics seriously b/c a lot of the gymnasts practices get sacrificed, opening up equipment for Tasha's practice (Tasha went on to compete for UCLA for college). [quote] U.S. team coordinator Martha Karolyi, Bela's wife, remembers another gymnast who did OK despite similar training adversity. Name: Mary Lou Retton. "She was in a single, little gym in Houston with all the other little kids around," Martha Karolyi says. "But that can be a special place. For some girls, it helps them to be tougher, especially in big competitions. They don't feel so distracted."[/quote] guess that was before the Karolyi's got famous and did that camp training style practice like with Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strug. it didn't seem like theirs was that type of club environment based on the tv/media coverage. [quote]"Of course she's laughing when she sees my videos, what we did in the '70s and what she is doing today," Andrea says. Jana makes no apologies. "It's kind of funny because you see some of the stuff that they did and you're like, 'Wow, a Level 8 or something can do some of those skills,''' Jana says. "Of course, the floor was different

it's very important to feel welcome! like that Cheer's song (from the tv show Cheers I mean) - where everbody knows your name, and they're always glad you came!! :D

My daughter worked out at American Twisters while Jana trained their as a junior national team member. What they never tell you is her mother was never her main coach until she hit senior level. The owner of American Twisters Tim Rand was her main coach. When Jana became a Senior, her mother basically said his services were not needed anymore. Jana then went to Boca Twisters to train. The reason she cannot train there any longer is that Tim retired and sold American Twisters to Boca Twisters in the end of 2006. About the same time she was at worlds. That is why she could not come back. The team was practicing at American Twisters and she and her mother could not go back to the place they just dumped a year earlier. If you go on YouTube and see some of her earlier competition videos, you will see Tim by the floor cheering her on and spotting her on bars, not her mom. I watched her practice with him so I know for a fact that is what happened. The gym family would get so mad when on tv they would talk about her mother coaching her like he never existed. But all the coaches and Bela and Martha know the truth. Just thought you would like to know the real story.

That is really interesting kpaulako, thanks for posting. Too bad for Tim. It must be hard to get your gymnast to the senior elite level and then be told they don't want you to coach them anymore, as he got her there and did apparently nothing wrong. It does seem from the stories that Jana's mom was coaching her throughout...well, that's media. They made a gymnast in my gym in a tv commercial for her ortho seem like she was really going for elite, on the elite track, and made her look good, her teammates watching her, etc...we were all laughing at it, even her.

Interesting story. I loved the way you have discussed your story with all of us. The conversation was great and i must appreciate your ideas to find the best gym for workout. fitness club montreal