Anderson youth places first at state gymnastics championships

WINNER:
12 year old Tristin Gifford of Anderson placed first at the Level Four State Gymnastics Meet in Sacramento, Sunday March 7th. He is currently tied for the number one position in the state at that level.

12-year-old Tristin Giffford of Anderson is currently tied for the number one position in the state in level four gymnastics.

The young athlete has been working out as a gymnast for the past four years. He began competing for the first time in December of 2008.

Gifford will soon begin training to become a level five gymnast for the 2009 season. His favorite event is the parallel bars, and his work in progress is the pommell horse.

Gifford works out at Athletics Unlimited in Anderson with coach Rene Exparza sixteen hours per week. For Gifford, the sport is family oriented, since is mother, Misty Gifford is a retired gymnast, and also teaches the Tiny Tots Classes. His sisters Morgan and Josalynn both compete in the sport at Level 6 and Level 4 respectively.

In the future, Gifford plans to continue taking his passion of the sport all the way to the level of Elite, which is preparing for competing at the National Level. Between Gifford and his sisters, they take the time to train together, and to watch each other compete.

"My sisters and I enjoy training together and going to one another's competitions, said Gifford. "We are supportive of one another."

Gifford represents part on a three man team from Athletics Unlimited in Anderson. There are currently two other male gymnasts on the team, competing for Athletics Unlimited, however they are competing at different skill levels.

"I like the sport of Men's Gymnastics because it requires strength, flexibility and it is really fun," stated Gifford.