(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — For the first time ever, the U.S. sent a full rhythmic gymnastics team to the Olympic Games with all members from the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center in Chicago.
Before they took the floor in Tokyo, the U.S. rhythmic gymnastics team was practicing leaps, turns and twirls at a Deerfield Park District facility.
“There’s a permanent floor that’s on loan to them from the U.S. Olympic Committee,” Tony Korzyniewski, general manager of the Sachs Recreation Center, said. “It's got 40-foot high ceilings, which is very conducive to the different exercises they do with the ribbon tossing and the club tossing and the hoops.”
The North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center has been renting out the 6,500-square-foot space since the Deerfield Park District bought the building in 2008.
The previous owner’s daughter was a competitive rhythmic gymnast, and made a point to ask the park district to offer rhythmic gymnastics to the community.
“It just kind of worked out and over the years developed into a top-notch program,” Korzyniewski said.
In addition to hosting a championship gymnastics club, the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center also offers beginner classes, which was a draw for Libertyville resident and Olympic athlete Laura Zeng.
“She's been with the program, I think since she was four or five years old, and now she's competing on an individual basis in Tokyo this week,” Korzyniewski said.
The qualification rounds for the individual events begin Thursday night at 8:20 p.m. Central Time, and the group all-around qualifiers start Friday at 8 p.m.
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