THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 1994 TAG: 9408100585
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Alexis Brion has everything needed to be an Olympic gymnast.
Everything, that is, except enough years.
To compete in the Atlanta Games in 1996, athletes must be 14 years old. When the opening ceremonies begin that summer, Brion will have just turned 13.
But come the year 2000, look out for her. The chances are pretty good she'll be on the U.S. squad.
She definitely has the talent.
The 11-year-old proved that last weekend by winning the junior national all-around championship at the U.S. Classic national championships in Palm Springs, Calif.
``So far, I think I will go to the Olympics,'' said Brion, who has been taking lessons at Gymstrada Gymnastics School for about five years. ``I have the routines and the difficulty for the Olympics.
``I'm just not old enough yet.''
No matter, she's got plenty to keep her busy until she is.
First there's the national team camp in Colorado Springs in four weeks. And she is waiting on her junior international team assignments, so there will be an international meet or two. Then there are sixth-grade classes at Salem Middle School beginning next month.
And, lest we forget, hours more of the intense training that has earned her the status of being the nation's top up-and-coming talent.
``I worked very, very hard and did my best,'' she said. ``I felt like I deserved to win.''
That's a voice of confidence - something Brion has lacked in the past.
``I was much more relaxed this time,'' she said. ``I had been to the Classic before (three times) and I was more experienced this time around.
``It's going to help me in the future. When I'm in a big meet, I will think of this meet and remember that I was relaxed and won.''
At the Classic, Brion captured national titles in floor and vaulting routines. She also took a fourth on balance beam and a sixth on uneven parallel bars.
``She should have won beam also,'' coach Deena Baker said. ``But she was two seconds over the time limit and they deducted from her score. Alexis was really on this weekend. She has the highest level of difficulty and she is simply ruling gymnastics at her level right now.
``There is no doubt in my mind that you will see this kid in the 2000 Olympics.''
Brion's all-around score of 73.110 was topped only by Amanda Borden, who won the Classic's senior-division title. Brion will become a senior-level gymnast in 1997.
In the past, gymnasts who have aspired to this level have left their hometown to seek advanced training at one of the nation's top clubs.
But Brion won't be leaving. No need to. She helped Gymstrada take fourth in the national open team championships several months ago.
``She's not going anywhere,'' Baker said. ``If she's getting enough training here to become a national champion, she has enough training. She's already doing routines harder than most you will see in the Olympics.
``Because of the recent successes, we've got people coming to us right now.''
Brion and fellow national team member Katie McFarland (19th in the Classic) are the biggest reasons.
``They complement each other,'' Baker said. ``Katie works harder and that pushes Alexis to work.''
And the work has paid off. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/Staff
``I have the routines and the difficulty for the Olympics,'' says
new junior national champ Alexis Brion.
by CNB