x
Breaking News
More () »

Local gymnast trains with the worlds best

The US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team is poised to defend their 2012 Olympic title and take the team gold by a very large margin Tuesday afternoon in Rio...

The US Women's Olympic Gymnastics team is poised to defend their 2012 Olympic title and take the team gold by a very large margin Tuesday afternoon in Rio.

Sunday, the team led the qualification round by nearly 10 points... the US women haven't lost a competition in 5 years.

FOX43 had the chance to sit down with a York County native, Trinity Thomas, who trains every month beside the five women representing the United States.

The 15-year-old is a Junior International Elite gymnast, and a member of the 8 member US Women's Junior National Team.

It's a tough cut to make.

The depth of talent in the US dominates worldwide.

Trinity was named to the team in June after National Championships.

"It's pretty amazing because I never really thought of myself as one of them I just was like... eh I'm trinity... I do gymnastics," said Trinity.

Once a month, she travels to the Karolyi ranch, The Olympic training site for the Women's National Team, an hour outside of Houston, Texas.

It's there, that she's joined by the best in the world.

"It's fun with the girls and it's a little intimidating because it's a different environment. but it's really fun to be able to go out there and show what you can do," said Trinity.

Three time World All-Around Champion, Simone Biles, reigning Olympic Champions Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and World Bar Champion Madison Kocian are the five women who make up the Olympic team.

They've become Trinity's close friends.

"I can cheer for them not just like looking up to them, although I still do, but like, looking up as a friend," said Trinity.

And while Trinity finds a role model in the women poised to win gold... her coach says the younger girls at Prestige Gymnastics in Lancaster County look up to her.

"The little ones she walks by, she'll give them a high five and she's very inspiring and positive," said Prestige Gymnastics Head Coach, Jen Fatta.

Trinity is still too young to compete at the Senior level, so this year's games were out of the question.

But next year, at the age of 16, she'll meet the requirement to compete as s senior gymnast on the world's highest stage.

While she has her sights set on Tokyo in 2020...

"Kinda cool to see that other people look at me and say you can go to the olympics and it makes me feel really good," said Trinity.

Her coach says it's all about the little victories along the way.

"We do one week at a time, we do one month at a time, we do one year at a time. We have goals for this year was to make the national team... actually it's done she did it," said Fatta.

Trinity has some advice for girls who will be watching the finals this afternoon, aspiring to be a gymnast:

"Follow their dreams and never listen to anybody who tells them that they can't do something because you can do anything that you can put your mind to," said Trinity.

For more information on Prestige Gymnastics, go to http://www.prestigegyms.com/

Before You Leave, Check This Out