Local gymnast chases dreams to Iowa
by Carin R. Kirkegaard
Local gymnast chases dreams to Iowa – Attends world-renowned gym of
Olympic gold medalist
Skylar Killough-Wilhelm may only be seven, but she is already driven to succeed.
At the tender age of four, Skylar’s mother Jan decided to have her little girl give gymnastics a whirl and enrolled her in Omega Gymnastics located in Castle Rock. Little did Jan realize, Skylar would fall in love with the sport.
It was on a road trip east, well before the 2008 Summer Olympics and prior to the fame and attention that would come with the success of Shawn Johnson, that took the family through Iowa and ultimately led them to Chow’s Gymnastics.
Skylar and Jan checked out the gym and when they returned to Castle Pines North, they sent an e-mail expressing their interest in trying out for the gym. In the spring of 2009, they received the call asking Skylar to try-out for a spot in Chow’s Gym.
By now, Shawn Johnson had become an Olympic Gold Medalist and the gym was getting hundreds of requests from gymnasts all over the world.
The auditions went well and Skylar was asked to join the gym, where she is now the youngest team gymnast at Chow’s Gym. Jan credits the coaches at Omega gymnastics with seeing Skylar’s potential and giving her the confidence to try the next level.
Last June, the family started living in two states; although Jan strives to keep a somewhat normal balance in Skylar’s life. Tuesday through Saturday Skylar, Jan and Skylar’s little sister live in Des Moines where, rather than home schooling, Skylar attends elementary school.
Then on Saturday, they catch a plane and head back to Castle Pines North to spend Sunday and Monday with Skylar’s dad Gary.
“We are just along for the ride,” said Jan. “We saw this as a great opportunity for Skylar and it is all she wants to do. When she was five she told me that if I would just keep her in gymnastics she would sell all of her toys,” Jan continued.
With blisters and tears on the palms of her hands, Skylar couldn’t be happier.
“I’d even sell all my money,” she proclaims.
