Nastia Liukin, all-around women's gymnastics champion and three-time silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics, demonstrates a high kick during a youth gymnastics clinic at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Thursday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Nastia Liukin, all-around women's gymnastics champion and three-time silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics, demonstrates a high kick during a youth gymnastics clinic at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Thursday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Nastia Liukin, all-around women's gymnastics champion and three-time silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics, watches a child's successful forward roll during a youth gymnastics clinic at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Nastia Liukin, all-around women's gymnastics champion and three-time silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics, helps a child perform a handstand during a youth gymnastics clinic at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Laurie Hernandez, a gold and silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics and winner of the 23rd season of "Dancing with the Stars," watches a participant leap from a springboard during a youth gymnastics clinic at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Desiree Sanchez, a 20-year veteran of USA Gymnastics who has previously worked alongside Olympic gold-medalists Shannon Miller and Dominique Moceanu, helps a gymnast spin on the bar during a youth gymnastics clinic at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Some youngsters at Yokota in western Tokyo jumped at the chance to attend a gymnastics clinic led by Olympic gold medalists Wednesday.
At least 65 young gymnasts leaped, tumbled, flipped and rolled on the mats at the base’s Samurai Fitness Center under the watchful eyes of some of America’s top athletes, including:
Nastia Liukin, all-around women’s champion and three-time silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics; Laurie Hernandez, a gold and silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics and champion of the 23rd season of TV’s “Dancing with the Stars”; and Desiree Sanchez, a veteran coach who choreographed beam and floor routines for Olympic gold-medalist Shannon Miller in a tour following the 1996 Summer OIympics.
“We were excited to work with the kids overseas,” Liukin told Stars and Stripes Wednesday.
“It’s an honor to be here teaching military kids,” said Hernandez, whose mother served in the Army Reserve.
The clinic was open to all ages, genders and skill levels. Some ruled the floor with practiced grace while the smallest had just learned to walk. The former Olympians helped them all, whether that meant appraising a floor routine or holding someone’s legs while they attempted a handstand for the first time.
During the 90-minute clinic, Sanchez led a warm-up before dividing the kids into three groups. One group, led by Hernandez, learned to vault using a springboard. Another group learned the basics of floor routines from Liukin. Sanchez taught others to use a balance beam and a single bar, the precursor to the uneven and parallel bars at high-level competition.
For safety, the balance beam remained on the floor and Sanchez stood next to the single bar.
Afterward, the athletes posed for a group photo and signed autographs for the enthusiastic participants.
“With everything going on in the world today, having this moment to touch someone’s life is pretty special,” Liukin said.
“We see their parents working very hard to support our country, and it means a lot to us to be able to come out and inspire these kids,” Hernandez said. “They inspire us too.”
The tour, in partnership with Armed Forces Entertainment, was scheduled to stop at Yokosuka Naval Base on Thursday. A meet and greet is planned for Friday, and further clinics are scheduled Saturday and Sunday, all at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
cook.leon@stripes.com Twitter: @LeonCook12
