Oakley Gremillion has one thing on her mind each day: when can she get to the gym? She may only be six years old, but her determination to be a great gymnast is real. Her mother says she came out of the womb doing cartwheels and hasn’t stopped since. This pint-sized powerhouse has big dreams and the focus to achieve them.
Walking at eight months and climbing out of her crib at 10 months, Oakley started displaying acrobatic signs early on. Her parents entered her into a gymnastics class at three years old, and by the age of four, she was training with the competition team, even though she couldn’t compete for another year. At age five, she actually won the state championship for Level 1 gymnasts, and she hasn’t looked back. Today, she competes against older girls but holds her own. Her potential is so great, in fact, her gym, Gymnasiana, wanted her to homeschool. Oakley’s parents, however, value Christian education, so Oakley still attends Dunham in the morning. She trains every afternoon, and all day during the holidays. She loves the practices and the meets. To calm her nerves before each meet and event, Oakley prays for Jesus to give her peace.
The gymnastics world may be new to her family, but Oakley is totally at home around the beam, the bars, and the floor. Her dream is to be an LSU gymnast and one day own her own gym. She knows this goal will require great effort, and she tells her mom all the time that she has to work really hard. “She’s got the focus and determination of a grown man,” her mom says. Her siblings are in awe of her strength and power. Her big brother tells her that she is “tiny but mighty.” In fact, on Family Fitness Nights, Oakley out-planks the entire family and can do more sit ups than anyone else.
Oakley’s talent and focus are making her into one incredible gymnast, and she is one amazing kid as well.
Do you have One Amazing Kid? Email education@brparents.com.
