Say the name Nadia Comaneci and viewers of the 1976 Montreal Olympics will cite words like "gymnastics icon" and "perfect 10".
The Bahamas' history books in gymnastics recorded its first "perfect 10" when Athalia 'Tally' Swann scored a 10.0 on the Floor Exercise event for Level 8. Swann and her teammates were being processed through a pre-screening event, prejudging and mock competition, during which they were scored by USA Level 10 certified judge Robyn McNicholas. Each gymnast was required to prove readiness and meet minimum score requirements set internally by their club in order to compete at external competitive meets.
The Bahamas Star Gymnastics coaching team is led by co-head Kachara Marshall and ably supported by dance coach Idania Garcia-Stroud, who choreographed the award-winning routine. Swann's squad coach, Tenille Thompson, credits her work ethic with this historic achievement.
Bahamas Star Gymnastics opened its doors in 2010 and during its short history has produced the best local and international results in the sport since its inception. Much of the credit goes to the coaching staff and parental supporters who back the program as part of Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club.
Many of the gymnasts will compete at their first external event for the season at Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational scheduled for December 12-14. The opening ceremony is set for Thursday, December 12, at the Atlantis Convention Center. Two days of nail biting competition will follow on Friday and Saturday.
Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational is in its third year and will attract 415 athletes, 30 clubs and supporters from Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States. The event is growing each year and is still the largest gymnastics event in the Caribbean and fills the largest number of room nights of any Bahamian sports tourism event. Bahamians are encouraged to support the event to witness whether Swann can repeat the feat of another perfect 10.
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