Olympic Dreams in Northwest Arkansas
By: Mallory Hardin, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 1, 2012
Madison Withey is only 15-years-old, but she already knows what the words dedication and hard work mean.
"You've got to be very committed to doing it, you've got to be very focused, if you're not then you could get hurt," she says.
Madison logs three hours each day at Regional Rec Gymnastics & Cheer in Rogers.
It's also where Matthew Rauls practices perfecting his pommel horse.
"It's just really fun and you can really, like, impress a lot of people and it really pumps you up," he says.
At just 11, Rauls can do it all.
"We do high bar, floor, p-bars, rings and vault. Some events have strengths so you have to hold it, you have to press up, so it takes a lot of strength and you get really tired," says Matthew.
Both Withey and Rauls are watching the 2012 Olympics closely, especially the gymnasts.
Madison says she can identify with U.S. Olympian Jordan Wieber, who failed to qualify for the women's all-around final in London.
"It reminded me of, like, not getting first place or not placing as well as you wanted to, or not being able to move up a level. It's hard on yourself because you put in so much time," says Madison.
These local gymnasts can't help but wonder what it would be like to compete for a gold medal on an international stage.
"It'd be really cool to get, like, a really big award and be in front of that many people," Rauls said.
And those Olympic dreams often start in a small gym.
"You've got to be very committed to doing it, you've got to be very focused, if you're not then you could get hurt," she says.
Madison logs three hours each day at Regional Rec Gymnastics & Cheer in Rogers.
It's also where Matthew Rauls practices perfecting his pommel horse.
"It's just really fun and you can really, like, impress a lot of people and it really pumps you up," he says.
At just 11, Rauls can do it all.
"We do high bar, floor, p-bars, rings and vault. Some events have strengths so you have to hold it, you have to press up, so it takes a lot of strength and you get really tired," says Matthew.
Both Withey and Rauls are watching the 2012 Olympics closely, especially the gymnasts.
Madison says she can identify with U.S. Olympian Jordan Wieber, who failed to qualify for the women's all-around final in London.
"It reminded me of, like, not getting first place or not placing as well as you wanted to, or not being able to move up a level. It's hard on yourself because you put in so much time," says Madison.
These local gymnasts can't help but wonder what it would be like to compete for a gold medal on an international stage.
"It'd be really cool to get, like, a really big award and be in front of that many people," Rauls said.
And those Olympic dreams often start in a small gym.
