SALISBURY, Md.- If you have watched any of the London 2012 Olympics, it has been quite the games for the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team. They won the overall title where American gymnast Gabby Douglas took the gold in the all-arounds. The numerous wins have been inspiring a lot of young kids to try the sport on Delmarva.
Some gymnastics studios in Wicomico County tell WBOC that in just the last few weeks they have been busy handling a flood of phone calls and walk-ins with parents trying to get their young ones, to one day be an Olympic gymnast.
"We've been staying up late and watching the Olympics and finally I was like, no better time than the present to go ahead and get signed up and started it out," said Mandi Revelle, who registered her 5-year-old daughter at Beach Bounders in Fruitland on Monday.
It is parents like Revelle whose big Olympic dreams for her daughter are giving a boost in business to the gymnastics studio.
"We've seen a lot of increase in our free trial classes," said Beach Bounders co-owner Terri Mueller. "It's a great opportunity because the girls did a wonderful job and as did the men and they have just been great ambassadors for the sport."
Mueller said she was expecting enrollment to go up slightly during the Olympics but the numbers went way past those expectations.
"Our first couple of weeks, we had between nine and ten campers every week, but now we are well in the mid thirties," Mueller said.
Melody Mitchell, who is co-owner of Mitchell's Martial Arts, said her gym in Salisbury has been attracting families with kids interested in the gymnastics program.
"We've probably had more phone calls and inquiries in the last couple of weeks than we've had in the last six months," Mitchell said.
While gymnastics studios around the county continue to reap the benefits of Olympic inspiration, Revelle said she hopes her investment will result in one day cheering her little gymnast all the way to the national spotlight.
"I asked her, 'Do you think you're going to be an Olympian?' And she says, 'Of course I am.' So you never know," Revelle said.
Both Mitchell and Mueller said they expect enrollments to continue to grow even after the Olympics are over.
Terri Mueller coaches one of her students at Beach Bounders Gymnastics in Fruitland. (Photo: WBOC)
