I got to go to IGC (International Gymnastics Camp) again this year. It was as awesome as it was last year and almost nothing had changed.
Dad and I left on the Saturday before camp started. We flew into New Jersey and drove to visit my former coach and see his new gym, but we only got to see his wife. We drove over to Aunt Wendy’s house in Pennsylvania to stay for a night before we drove to camp. It was really good to see Aunt Wendy and Uncle Dave again.
With (Great-)Uncle Dave & (Great-)Aunt Wendy
On Sunday morning, we said goodbye and left for camp. Their house is really close to camp, so it didn’t take very long. As soon as we drove in, I felt so happy to be back, but I also felt a tiny bit nervous.
Arriving at Camp with Dad
I got checked in and went to my cabin that I was going to be staying in for the week. I was put into cabin 11, the oldest boys’ cabin. So I had age 14 and up cabin-mates. It was really cool because both of my counselors were Australian. After I got settled in, I played cards with one of my counselors and cabin-mates.
Cabin-mates / Counselors / Celebrities
On check-in day, we always have cabin cheers and the theme of camp for my week was ‘Space Week.’ Our cabin cheer was singing “Here Come the Men in Black” and then one of my couselors shot a screaming monkey toy into the air. It was a really funny cabin cheer.
Men in Black
Cabin Cheer
Celebrating
After that, we went to screening which is how we get put into groups. We only get tested on High Bar, Floor, and Pommel. I got 10 on Pommel and on floor I was remembered so I didn’t have to do anything to get a 9+, but on high bar I only got an 8+. I still made it into the 1st training group and enjoyed training with the boys.
Pommel
Getting Instruction from John Orozco
When we were warming up before we started the screening, one of the coaches (Mischa) came over to me and I recognized him from when we used to train together in New Jersey. It was really cool to see him again after we moved 4 1/2 years ago.
Get-to-know-you Activity
The whole week, I really wanted to work on my ‘under sumi’s’, but on Wednesday, my back gave out so the only thing I could do from Wednesday to Friday was pommel. It was really disappointing, but next year, my back will hopefully be better.
Chilling with My Training Group
Overseeing Training
Since I was having problems with my back, I knew I wouldn’t get the ‘Most Dedicated Gymnast’ award for my group this year like I did last year. So I was really surprised when they called my name for the award. I think it must be because I went to the gym during every recreation period and did conditioning. Each day I took one of the other boys with me, but no one wanted to condition with me every day.
Most Dedicated Gymnast
The celebrities that week were Oksana Chusovitina, Svetlana Boguinskaia, Paul Ruggeri, Josh Dixon, John Orozco, and Jana Bieger. It was s0 cool to meet them and take some pictures with them.
Oksana competes for Uzbekastan and her son was in my cabin which was a really cool experience.
My Cabin-mates
I can’t wait to go again next year. I hope I have a lot of new skills to work on by then. I also really want to see all the coaches again. IGC is always fun.
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