PORT CHARLOTTE (WSNN) – After closing its doors for two months, one of the oldest Gymnastics company in Florida opens them again for training.
Since 1984, Horizon Gymnastics Academy in Port Charlotte has only closed once, when Hurricane Charley hit in 2004.
Owner, Shelly Proa, says they began phase one this week with all the girls training six feet apart. They get a temperature check and clean hands outside before coming in. Coaches wear masks and only take them off when they have to directly spot, but it’s a hands-off policy right now.
Being gone for two months, Proa says her perspective on working a gym has changed.
“You get a great appreciation when something is taken from you instantly, and so now that I have been blessed to be able to reopen, I’m not going to take that for granted again,” Proa said.
The gymnasts say they’re excited to return after being gone for so long.
Even though it’s different and challenging, they’re ready to take on the challenge.
They say being gone for two months affected them.
“It was sad and I was lonely and I didn’t have anything else to do because gym is like my life,” 12-years-old gymnast, Addison Proa, said.
“You’re really behind now, and I feel like I have to regain all my strength and ability to do all my skills,” 11-years-old gymnast, Lillian Sthootey, said.
“I feel like it helped me cause it let my body rest kind of, and I could more time on stretching, cause I had a hard time with stretching,” 11-years-old gymnast, Emily Atherholt, said.
“I feel like we’re doing a lot better than we thought we would be doing, skill-wise,” 15-years-old gymnast, Natalee Brown, said.
Proa says while the gym is open, safety is first, and CDC guidelines will be followed. She says gymnastics can be achieved in a safe manner, and she’s looking forward to this summer training.