Gulf Breeze Gymnastics Coach Saylor Ladnier Wants to Compete in the Olympics

The Olympics turn the spotlight on gymnastics, and the feats of acrobatic grace that go with it. The athletes are a special breed, and the journey to hone their skills is a long one, filled with long practices, sore muscles and single-minded focus. Often, many will burn out along the way. Others like Saylor Ladnier will find themselves on a trajectory toward the Olympic games, which would require a commitment that is often more than most families can make or even want to consider.

Saylor began her gymnastic career when she was 3, more to see if she liked the sport than to train seriously. She loved it, and in short order she was winning everything she could enter, putting herself on the path to elite status. At this point, her parents were ready for the next step in her gymnastics adventure, which meant relocating to Texas, where Saylor currently trains with Michael Harris and Jasmine Berry at Gulf Coast Elite in Gulf Breeze.

There are 10 levels under USA Gymnastics before a gymnast becomes an elite, and Saylor has already climbed four of them. This season, she is training at level 9, and she will try out for the prestigious HOPES qualifier in December. If she makes the team, she’ll have a chance to compete in 2032 — the youngest age at which a female gymnast can qualify for the Olympics.

At the moment, she’s splitting her time between artistic (like the acrobatic events seen at the Olympics) and trampoline and tumbling, or T&T for short. Normally, the two disciplines run separate seasons, with each having their own national championship meet. But Saylor has found it easier to juggle both, because she loves both of them equally.

Panhandle Perfection Gymnastics offers boys and girls of all ages a place to build strength, flexibility, coordination and self-confidence in a fun and safe environment. The facility offers recreational classes and competitive team options for the Pensacola area, and is dedicated to promoting positive life-long athletics participation through gymnastics. For more information, visit the website at panhandleperfectiongymnastics.com.