Olympic Gold Medalist Coaches Cary Gymnasts

By Jaclyn Asztalos, NBC17 Reporter

There are some young gymnasts at Impact Athletics in Cary learning from one of the best.

“I went to the 1992 Olympics and I went on bars. Six judges gave me perfect tens,” Olympic medalist and Coach Li Lu said.

Lu won the gold for the uneven bars and the silver on the balance beam for China, something she said she worked for her entire life. Now, she’s fulfilling another one of her goals by passing on her love for the sport.

“I decided to come to the U.S. because it was my dream to help U.S. gymnasts and get their dreams coming true,” Lu said.

Alyssa Tucker, 13, said she became one step closer to her Olympic dreams when Impact Gym hired Lu last September to coach the girls’ gymnastic team.  Tucker and the others said Lu not only critiques their techniques and calms their fears, but she also inspires them.

“My goal is to be in the 2012 Olympics.  Here bars are awesome and I’m trying to be like her. I’m excited,” Tucker said.

The girls said Lu not only brings her talent and experience to Impact but she also knows how to make it to the top, challenges and all.

“She is motivating and helps me come over all my fears and skills and helps me become a better gymnast,” Gymnast Maddie Gamble said.

Lu said gymnastics is one of the most difficult sports. She wants to see these young gymnasts succeed but understands that it’s a long road to the gold.  As for the 2008 Summer Olympics, she had this to say.

“People keep asking me are you voting for China or America and I say I vote for both.  They are both really good,” Lu said.

Young Raleigh Fencer Hopes To Follow In Olympic Gold Medalist’s Footsteps

By: Chantee Lans, NBC17 Reporter
Sabre fencer Mariel Zagunis was the first American to win a gold medal in Beijing during the summer Olympic Games on Saturday. 
 
Junior fencer Zoe Schaper, 14, of Raleigh is training for upcoming local and national tournaments. 
 
The rising high school freshman has competed in sabre fencing for three years. 
 
“I want to be like her because she is so skilled and she knows what she is going to do before she does it, and she has great form and it’s awesome watching her,” explained Schaper.

She trains at NBS Gym in Raleigh.
 
Schaper says her dream is to compete in the Olympic Games. 
 
“It would be amazing. Just being there would be great.  It would be great to go home with a medal too I guess, but being there would be a great accomplishment,” said Schaper.
 
“A bunch of my kids aspire to be Olympians.  It’s always good to have a goal. It is a very difficult road. But if you come in and work hard, there is nothing that can stop you from doing it,” said Wes Caudill, Schaper’s head fencing coach.
 
“I probably won’t stop.  It’s great.  I love it,” said Schaper.
 
Schaper is an incoming freshman at Knightdale High School.
 
She wants to continue competing in sabre fencing through high school and college.