Every parents hopes to inspire their children, but Althea Wilson knows what it feels like for her child to inspire her.
“I know it sounds cheesy, but she’s really inspirational,” says Wilson. “We’re extremely proud of Gabryel. The gymnastics, and winning a national championship, that’s all awesome, but we see everything that goes into that.”
Wilson’s daughter, Gabby, recently won the national championship in gymnastics for her age group.
“All the hard work does pay off and it just motivates you to work harder and harder, so you can keep accomplishing those things,” says Gabby of her recent success.
That hard-working attitude is one that her coach Kami Gotcheva values deeply.
“She’s very driven. She’s like an athlete you want to have multiplied by 12,” says Gotcheva.
Right now that drive is pushing her towards to the elite level and potentially the Olympics.
“I don’t think she has any limits,” says Gotcheva.
Gaby Wilson says of course she’s dreamt of standing on the Olympic podium and having someone hang a medal around her neck, but even after winning at Nationals she says that reaching that next level is not the most important thing
“When I was younger, of course I did. I still do to this day, but I know that it’s a lot of commitment, takes a lot of hard work and I’m not going to try and put so much pressure on myself. I just want to see where it goes,” says Gaby.
“I would love to see her go to the Olympics, of course! Only if that’s what she wants,” says Wilson of her daughter’s future in gymnastics.
Right now what Gabby wants is to keep working, keep having fun, and find her own inspiration watching the Olympics this summer.
“Laurie Hernandez….I love her so much. And Simone Biles… That’s the one person in the world that I would want to be,” says Gabby.
If she keeps at it, she very well could be.
