Once after-school activities are over, most students head home or back to the dorms to catch up on homework, study, relax or hang out with friends. But Landon Watters and Lauren Johnson head to the gym.
Both accomplished gymnasts, Watters and Johnson train six days a week (22 hours per week) during the school year at Cartersville Twister Gymnastics.
“We usually do an hour of beam, an hour of bars and an hour of either floor or vault, depending on the day,” said Johnson, a junior. “When we are preparing for competitions, we do a short warm-up and practice routines. In our four-hour practices, we also do an hour of conditioning and flexibility.”
The girls are coached by former European standouts Andrei Kouznetsov, Irina Podgornaya and Sasha Stetsenko.
“They inspire me, especially last season when I was injured, to keep working and never give up. They know exactly how to push me a little harder when I am scared of a skill and how to calm me down before a competition,” said Johnson.
Watters, a freshman, said she appreciates the talent and experience of her coaches.
“Coach Kouznetsov, who coaches us mainly on bars and sometimes vault and tumbling, competed throughout Europe and became a prize winner in international championships. In Russia, he also helped coach the National Champions,” she said. “Coach Podgornaya also competed in Russia, and was the National Beam Champion. She coaches on all four events, and makes up all of our routines.”
Judy Watters took her daughter to her first gymnastics class because the child was always trying to hang upside-down. Her intuition was right. The little girl won her first medal at the age of 5, and has since earned Level 10 status.
“After my first competition, I thought it was time to go home, but instead they called out my name to go up to the front and receive my medal,” said Watters. “I was so scared then that I had to have someone else go with me.”
But Johnson wasn’t shy. In fact, it was the idea of winning a medal that drew her to the sport at the age of 7.
“My two sisters were Level 2 gymnasts, and I was happy taking dance lessons until I saw them win medals in a competition,” said Johnson. “Then I wanted to become a gymnast. Once I started taking lessons, I loved the sport and was no longer preoccupied with winning.”
Her first competition was in 1997, at Level 5.
“I wasn’t nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” said Johnson, who also maintains Level 10 status. “When I went to perform my bar routine, I forgot to salute the judges and had to start over. I was so embarrassed, and I never made that mistake again.”
As young gymnasts, Watters and Johnson trained in all events. Watters was a quick learn on beam, which soon became her favorite, while Johnson found herself partial to floor.
“Tumbling was always fun, and new skills never scared me,” said Johnson. “My favorite event is still floor, because it has taken me the longest to master. I struggled with my tumbling passes in competition for a while, but with patience and hard work, I was able to improve my start value and bonus elements.”
Knee and foot injuries kept Watters off the beam for a while, so she found a new passion. “I had more chances to work on the bars while I was injured, and, therefore, have improved and gained more new skills,” she said.
But when it comes to competition, these gymnasts are versatile, each boasting a wide range of honors.
“My best showing in a regional competition was the Region 8 Level 9 Regionals in Birmingham, Ala., in April 2003,” said Johnson. “I earned a 9.425 on vault and won 1st place. In the Level 10 Regionals in Atlanta, in April 2004, I scored a 9.3 on vault and a 9.05 on beam, earning 8th place on both. This was an accomplishment for me, because it was my first competition since a back injury in January.
“In my most recent competition in November 2004, I scored a career-high of 9.55 on floor and matched a career-high on vault with a 9.425. I also scored a career-high overall score of 36.35,” she continued. “I worked hard all summer and during the fall in order to put together routines for this year, and I was so excited that my hard work was finally paying off.”
Watters, who was named Level 8 Regional Champion on Bars at the age of 10, qualified for region again at the age of 13 after earning an 11th place All Around finish at the Level 9 State Meet. With nearly a decade of competitive experience under her belt, Watters said the WOGA (World Olympic Gymnastics Academy) Classic Meet in Plano, Texas, at age 11 was most memorable.
“Since our Russian coaches were friends with their Russian coaches, we were able to go to their gym and practice the day before our meet,” said Watters. “I remember taking turns on the beam with Carley Patterson, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, and Hollie Vise, 2003, World Championship Team Member. It was a great experience to be practicing with them.”
No matter where they are competing, both Johnson and Watters manage to “keep their head in the game.”
“A person must love the sport. It requires so much time and dedication,” said Johnson. “Every day is a new adventure, and sometimes, easy skills can suddenly become difficult. It takes a lot of mental toughness to be able to perform each day, no matter what the circumstances, but if you love what you are doing, you can always overcome the obstacles.”
Watters agreed, adding that a successful gymnast must be dedicated, determined and fearless.
These gymnasts will begin their official season in January 2005. The state meet will be held in Atlanta in March, and the regional competition will be held in Nashville, Tenn., in April. If Watters and Johnson earn one of the top seven spots in the region, they will qualify for Level 10 Nationals in Ontario, Calif., the first weekend in May.
Johnson is the daughter of Walter and Leslie Johnson of Cartersville, and Watters is the daughter of Bill and Judy Watters of Rome.
