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I have been involved in the great sport of
gymnastics for over 40
years.
As a member of the Green Bay YMCA and
Georgia College
gymnastics teams, I won many state championships and was nationally
ranked. I spent my summers away from home training with Hungarian
coach Geza Martiny. I received a scholarship to Georgia College
where Geza was the head coach. Throughout my gymnastics career I
competed in eight National Championships.
My first sport was not gymnastics. My parents
were professional ice skaters. I started skating as soon as I could
walk.
My second sport was synchronized swimming.
When I entered school, my mom took a job with the Green Bay YMCA and
started a water ballet club. I performed in my first show, a solo
number, at the age of five. I went on to become a state and
regional champion. I had the
opportunity to participate in many sports. Besides gymnastics and
synchronized swimming, I also competed in speed swimming, diving,
played softball, volleyball and was a National Champion on the YMCA
Athletic Achievement Team. I also studied dance, jazz, tap, and
ballet, and was a member of a performing dance troupe.
I am very thankful to may parents for exposing
me to so many different sports. Gymnastics is where I eventually
focused all my time and energy. I credit my parents, Roy and Lois
McDonald, for allowing me to zero in on my passion, not theirs,
gymnastics.
I became a judge on Coach
Martiny's
recommendation. While at Georgia College, I took a judging course, passed
the test, and began my judging career in 1978. I continued to work
my way up the judging ranks, reaching the national
level.
Judging has been a wonderful way for me to stay
involved in the sport I love. Becoming a judge was the best
decision I ever made for myself. Judging has not only kept me
involved with my sport, but also has provided me with a variety of
wonderful opportunities and lifelong friendships. I cant imagine my
life without gymnastics.
The three greatest influences in my life have
been my mother, my father, and my coach. |
