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Local Gymnast Shoots For National Team

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By CLIFF GILL Tribune correspondent

Published: September 15, 2007

HUDSON - Five years ago, Kristie Jacobs of Spring Hill received a brochure from the Top Contenders Gymnastics Academy inviting her 5-year-old daughter Jacqueline to spend a day at the facility and be introduced to gymnastics. After only a year of training, Jacqueline won her first medal. To date, at age 10, she has amassed more than 50 medals and 30 trophies from both local and national competitions.

Next month, Jacqueline will be competing in Houston to qualify for the TOPs National Team. TOPs is the Talent Opportunity Program for the best 60 gymnasts nationwide ages 7-11. If she qualifies, this will be Jacobs' third consecutive year as a member of the team.

'Never did I imagine that Jacqueline would become this successful,' mom Kristie said. 'She makes me so proud, I want to cry.'

One of the benefits for all TOPS team members will be the opportunity to train at Karolyi's Gymnastics, home of Olympic coach Bela Karolyi. Among Karolyi's pupils are former Olympic stars Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strug and Kim Zmeskal.

Jacobs shrugs off the comparisons to the former Olympians.

'I just challenge myself to be the best that I can be,' she said.

Her coach, Beth Strazzullo, is also the owner of Top Contenders.

'I'm so pleased to have Jacqueline qualify. Most of the girls train around 20-25 hours per week on top of their schoolwork and it shows that hard work pays off. Jacqueline is dedicated and very motivated to succeed,' Strazzullo said.

Jacobs receives additional conditioning and strength training from her father, Mike.

'She's improved every year,' he said. 'As long as she enjoys gymnastics and wants to continue, I'll help her every way I can.'

One of Jacobs' signature moves is the 'Blind Change,' performed on the uneven bars. While fully extended on the top bar, she releases and turns away from the bars, then twists and grabs the lower bar. To achieve such a complicated move requires focus and discipline.

'I block everything out and only think about what I'm going to do,' Jacobs said.

Jacobs' goal is to compete in the 2016 Olympics. Her performance at the TOPs program will provide a measure of her progress, with half of the current National Team and three of the 2007 World Championship Team having been TOPs team members.

As an honor student beginning fifth grade at Suncoast Elementary in Spring Hill, Jacqueline modestly downplays her athletic success. However, when she sees the boys boasting and showing off on the parallel bars at school, she launches into one of her award-winning routines.

'That keeps them quiet, at least for a little while,' she said.

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