She tumbles, she twists, she flies through the air with the greatest of ease…HV Junior Rory Field might appear petite and mild-mannered walking the high school hallways but come 3 pm when she arrives at the World Class Gymnastics Academy in Latham, all bets are off.
A gymnast since her preschool days down in South Carolina when she first started tumbling with her mom in a ‘Mommy and Me’ gymnastics program, it was pretty evident she had a special spark.
Now 14 years later, she is a force to be reckoned with, competing in the Junior Olympics at a Level 10, the highest ranking possible, on the balance beam, vault, uneven bars and mats. Hitting the gym to train every day after school from 3 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 11 to 3 pm, Rory makes sure she finds time to give back, coaching younger gymnasts on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays after and before her own workouts.
When asked what her favorite routine is, she admits with a contagious smile, ‘the floor’ and although a healthy diet is important to follow, fear not, she is still a teenager at heart when it comes to food choices. In addition, she is a very accomplished saxophonist in the senior band.
Competitive meets are held from December to April and have given Rory the opportunity to do some great traveling throughout the northeast, dipping as far south as Florida and even venturing westward for the Nationals held in Indiana. Early this December, the 2018 Junior Olympic World Class Invitational was held at Siena, and out of all competitors in her Level 10 ranking Rory won:
- Floor – 2nd
- Vault – 2nd
- Bars – 4th
- Beam – 3rd
- All around – 3rd
Bumps and bruises, contusions, concussions and fractured growth plates in her feet have not stopped this pint-sized champion from living what so many only dream of. Rory’s goal is to compete in D1 level college gymnastics and by the looks of her videos she has shared, she’s already there! You go girl!
View TU Article on the local gymnastics competition
View Photos and video (video is the last photo in the album)
We have some pretty amazing young people set to take on the world here at Hoosic Valley - if you know of one that would like to share their story outside of the classroom send an email to Nancy O'Donnell at [email protected]