Simone Biles isn't just winning medals this Olympics; she is inspiring kids everywhere to pursue their own Olympic dreams. That's true for Michael Phelps, Maya Moore, Serena Williams and hundreds of other athletes competing for Team USA in Rio.
If the games have captured your kids' competitive spirits, here are some places they can go to get started on their gold medal journey.
Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta. 2995 Cobb Parkway NW. Kennesaw, Ga. 30152. 770-975-8337. www.gymnasticsacademyofatlanta.com
The Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta is the only U.S. National Team training center in Georgia. It is the training venue of Megan Skaggs, who is on the U.S. National Team and won a silver medal on the balance beam at the 2015 Pan American Games.
The academy has programs for boys and girls as young as 1 year, and its most advanced levels are by invitation only. In addition to its competitions and teams, the academy has recreational programs, tumbling classes for cheerleaders, day camps, summer camps and birthday parties. Registration is open year-round, with class fees due each month.
Atlanta Swim Academy. 732 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Ga. 30068. 770-973-3120. www.atlantaswimacademy.com
Atlanta Swim Academy has been teaching kids about aquatics for 30 years.
The East Cobb facility has three indoor pools to allow for training year-round, and one of the pools is a four-lane Junior Olympic-size pool. The academy has private and semi-private lessons for kids and adults. The baby splash program, which is free, allows parents to introduce their babies to the water before their kids turn 6 months old.
The Speed School. 4231 Southside Drive, Acworth, Ga. 30101. 770-856-0990. www.thespeedschool.com
Speed is the key to many sports in the Olympics, and the Speed School in Acworth specializes in it.
The facilities include several training areas, a jogging track, sprint lanes and more; has private, group and team sessions; and has specialized coaching for Olympic sports such as soccer, track, volleyball, basketball and wrestling.
More than 300 middle and high school athletes train each year at the Speed School, and many of them have earned college athletic scholarships, including Kenyan Drake, a Hillgrove High School graduate who won a national championship at the University of Alabama and was recently drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
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