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OLYMPICS
Local businesses get an Olympic boost
Posted: Aug 1, 2012 7:17 PM by Keli Moore
Updated: Aug 1, 2012 8:35 PM
It's been an incredible week for Team USA. For the first time in 16 years, the U.S. women's gymnastics team won gold Tuesday in London, and Michael Phelps is now the most decorated Olympian. All the hype had Central Coast athletes pushing themselves to train harder Wednesday.
"I just want to work hard and get to the 2020 Olympics," said Malia, 8.
"I want to be in the Olympics one day," said Aiden, 7.
"It inspired me to work even harder because you could tell that they worked really hard to do that," said Makenna, 11.
"Watching them teaches me how to swim faster," said Cole, 7.
Dreams of gold medals have turned into golden opportunities for local businesses.
"The phone would not stop ringing, it is incredible," said TJ Weaver, a coach at Central Coast Gymnastics.
From those aspiring gymnasts to those wanting to make a splash, more people are taking swim lessons and signing up for gymnastics classes.
"Lessons always grow. Kids come in here all the time and they are excited and they want to make the Olympics," said Jeffery Purchin, the owner of Five Cities Swim School in Arroyo Grande.
Olympic fever has opened these kids eyes to what's possible.
"To get my back flip and twist in my flipping," said Malia, 8.
And that's just what she was working on when the Central Coast girls team practiced in Avila Beach Wednesday.
"They are definitely a lot more excited," said Kate Mager, a gymnastics coach.
"I have definitely seen an increase in motivation. And they are more aggressive with their skills that they could not get before," said Kelly Busacker, a Central Coast Gymnastics coach.
More than a workout, Wednesdays beach workout was a celebration of these Olympics and those to come.
"Go team USA," said the girls team with enthusiasm.
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