Eye on the Olympics
BR native Carly Patterson bound for big-time gymnastics
By CHANTE DIONNE WARREN
Advocate staff writer
Fifteen-year-old Baton Rouge native Carly Patterson still feels a little surprised when strangers approach her in malls and in stores, she said.
After becoming the second-ranked gymnast in the world in August, fame is part of the territory.
"It's cool," said Patterson from her home in Allen, Texas.
But she seems to keep a level head. "I'm pretty outgoing and maybe a little shy if I don't know you. But, once I get to know you I like to laugh and be funny," Patterson said.
Patterson lived in Baton Rouge until she was 11 when her father's job moved them to Allen, Texas.
Patterson helped lead the U.S. Gymnastics Women's National Team to victory in the 2003 World Gymnastics Championship in August in California and she won the all-around silver medal.
"That was one of my most exciting moments in gymnastics. That's what I worked for and the payoff is just great," Patterson said.
"The crowd was so cool. Every time an American would perform, they would scream so loud and it just gave me a huge rush of adrenaline," she said.
Patterson has racked up dozens of national and international awards in gymnastics including becoming the U.S. junior national champion in 2002 and the Visa American Cup champion in 2003.
She also has a balance beam skill named in her honor, "The Patterson."
"I'm the only one who can do a roundoff, flip-flop, double Arabian off the balance beam," she said.
Patterson's career took root at Elite Gymnastics on Bluebonnet Boulevard where she attended a cousin's birthday party at age 6, she said.
"We were doing flips on the trampoline," she said.
Unknown to Patterson, gymnastics coach and former Olympian Johnny Moyal, was in the gym and watched Patterson.
"I discovered Carly. I called her mother and told her it looked like she had some talent," Moyal said.
Soon after, Patterson was attending practice three times a week and by age 8, practicing twice a day on weekends.
Moyal wasn't only training Patterson in the gym, but he was also teaching her how to handle pressure and to concentrate on why she loved the sport. She also attended a home-school program at Elite Gym run by parents.
Those early training sessions helped shape Patterson's victories in the gymnastics arena, Moyal said.
"I'm overwhelmed with her success and really glad that we have homegrown kids that come from our own back yard," Moyal said. "When Carly came, I told her she has what it takes to make it to the Olympics."
Patterson's eye is on the 2004 Olympics and on making the 2005 World Team, she said. For that, she doesn't mind delaying her social life.
After her family's move to Texas, she enrolled in public schools for two years, but it proved difficult.
"It was hard to keep up because I missed a lot of days in school because of camps and meets," Patterson said.
She joined Spring Creek Academy, a small non-traditional private school for children with athletic or acting careers.
The school change fit her schedule better.
Patterson's day begins with gymnastics practice from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. followed with school from noon to 3 p.m. and then back to gym practice from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
When she's not practicing, she's in the classroom studying some of her favorite subjects, including Spanish and child development. She also likes to swim, relax, visit the mall or work on the computer. She wants to study dental hygiene in college, she said.
Otherwise, there's not much time for a social life, she said.
In just three years, Patterson has traveled to Australia, China, Belgium, Canada and all over the United States, including Hawaii, competing. She also travels to attend practice camps.
"I used to miss home when I was smaller, but I've gotten older and I'm more mature," she said.
"It's tough sometimes because you miss out on attending a regular school, going out on weekends, sleeping in or having more of a normal life like others," she said.
"But that's what you give up to become a world-class gymnast. If that's what I have to give up, I have the rest of my life for all the other stuff ... and seeing hard work pay off, you get up every morning and you see why you do this," she said.
Her parents, Ricky and Natalie Patterson are equally as proud of her rising success.
"I just feel incredible. She's gone from an entry-level gymnast to a top-level gymnast," said Ricky Patterson. "She has a strong spirit."
Associated Press photos
The crowd erupts in applause as Carly Patterson, a Baton Rouge native, concludes her floor routine during the finals at the World Gymnastics Championship in August in Anaheim, Calif. where she won the All-Around silver medal.
Carly Patterson performed on the uneven parallel bars during the women's individual all-around finals at the 2003 World Gymnastics Championships in August in Anaheim, Calif.