The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage is presented to an individual or individuals who’s contributions “transcend sports”. The recipient reflects the spirit of Arthur Ashe, an American Tennis Player, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their belief no matter what it cost. The Award has been presented annually at the ESPY Awards since its inception in 1993 (ESPN.com).
This past weekend the incredible woman affected by the heinous actions of Larry Nassar, were presented with this prestigious award at the 2018 Espy Awards in Los Angeles California. Over 140 sister survivors gathered on the stage to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award presented by Jennifer Garner.
Congratulations to all the sister survivors, those who were in attendance and those who were unable to attend, on this prestigious award for Courage.
We have compiled a gallery below of photos from the ESPY Awards, if you have photos you would like to share with us to be included in our gallery please email us ([email protected]) and they will be added.
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For more information about the 2018 ESPY and to watch the Sister Survivors accept the Arthur Ashe Award please Click Here
Region 5 is making their move into 2019. Check out some of the new skills being done from our gymnasts around the Region. If you want your upgrades to be included in future Making Your Move posts upload your video to your Instagram page (must be public or put up on gym IG) and tag us @region5gyminsider. #R5MakingMovesMonday
Amanda Gruber (Flying High) New Double Layout on Floor
This R5 Insider Spotlight features 2018 JO Nationals Bars Champion Sydney Jelen of Legacy Elite. Sydney will be competing in the HOPES Championships this coming Friday for the 2nd time in her young career. Sydney competed in her first Hopes Championships back in 2016 after competing as a level 9. She has qualified to the last two JO National Championships and since competing HOPES and is must more confident out there now. She is looking to add few skills into her routines and had has her eye set on a specific goal this time around. Find out more about Sydney as she prepares for this weekends competition.
Our next 20 questions athlete was literally born with gymnastics in her blood. Savannah Miller of Oakland Gymnastics in Michigan comes from a gymnastics family with both mom and dad being former gymnasts, both competing at the college level. Savannah tumbled into the gym even before she could walk. Savannah and her sister MacKenzie, who is a gymnast at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, both trained their entire gymnastics careers at their parents gym in Commerce Twp, Michigan together. Savannah, who first went down the Elite path, qualified to the 2014 Hopes Championships as well as to 2 JO National Championships as a level 10. Savannah has grown up as a talented young gymnast right in front of our eyes here in Michigan, she is lovely to watch on the uneven bars and shows true maturity on the floor exercise. Savannah will be entering into her freshman year of high school this year, so we will have a few more years with this talented young athlete who I am sure will be a major player in Region 5 for the next few years. Lets get to know Vannah a little bit better as she looks towards the upcoming season and making a run at a 3rd straight JO Nationals.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I got involved ingymnastics through my parents, who were club and college gymnasts themselves, and who were both coaching when I was young. I was three years old when I started the sport.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is bars.
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train is a Ray on bars.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a Maloney 1/2.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is accomplishing a skill after training it constantly.
What college do you plan on attending? I am currently undecided on what college I will be attending.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is JO Nationals, because the entire Region 5 experience is incredible! I love hanging with my Region 5 teammates! I love the energy at the competition! I love having the opportunity to represent the BEST region in the country! R5 Pride!
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics, so far, is qualifyingto the Secret Classic in 2014, in the Hopes division.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Peng Peng Lee.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My favorite song to listen to before competitions is No Tears Left to Cry by Ariana Grande.
3 Things you could not live without? Three things I couldn’t live without are my family, gymnastics and my dogs!
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would be a dog, because they are friendly and
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? The five must haves that I keep in my gym bag are tape, extra hair ties, band-aids, tiger balm, and chapstick.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I have to listen to music before every meet.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? In my free time, I like to paint and draw.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing moment was when I started crying before my beam routine, at a big invitational, when I was a Level 3, because I was very nervous. My coach had to talk to the judges and ask if I could have a minute to get it together. After a few words of encouragement and a big hug, I was ready to go.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnasts, the sport I would try would be
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect Maggie Nichols because she is full of talent and more importantly, integrity!
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? One of the most valuable pieces of advice my coach has given me is to not overthink anything you do.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. Something interesting about myself is that I love art!
R5 Insider Spotlight: Elizabeth Gantner, Junior International Elite from JPAC. JPAC has their first international elite gymnast and Elizabeth is currently competing in her first elite season. Her coaches Dave and Jaycie talk about her training and their plan for this new journey. Liz, two time JO National Qualifier, has dreamed, believes she can and now is working hard to achieve her goals at the elite level.
The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage is presented to an individual or individuals who’s contributions “transcend sports”. The recipient reflects the spirit of Arthur Ashe, an American Tennis Player, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their belief no matter what it cost. The Award has been presented annually at the ESPY Awards since its inception in 1993 (ESPN.com).
