Local Miami gymnasts shines at AAU Gymnastics Age Group National Championships
Eight-year-old Miami gymnast, Nya Harris-Middleton, recently returned from competing at AAU Gymnastics Age Group National Championships in Kingsport, Tennessee. The five-day competition involved more than 1,500 athletes from around the United States. Harris-Middleton, who attends Gym Kidz North Miami Beach, placed third on the vault, fifth on bars, fourth on floor and fifth All-Around.
Harris-Middleton has been taking gymnastic lessons since age four and competing since she was seven. An honor roll student at Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary School, Harris-Middleton works very hard balancing school studies and gymnastics practice with her team three days a week. She is often seen somewhere practicing her cartwheels and other gymnastic exercises.
I had a lot of fun this week. I am happy about my accomplishments and can’t wait to get to level three”, Nya Harris-Middleton said.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching Nya for three years. Nya’s hard work ethic and positive attitude are a winning combination. Although she is very young, her focus and determination have progressed her greatly through gymnastics at a fast rate”, says her gymnastics coach Tawana Daniel. “Not only is she dedicated to the commitment of her training, whenever she’s in the gym her carefree, easy going attitude is a great infectious stress reliever for her teammates. Nya continually strives for greatness, whether she’s in practice or at a competition. She is a pleasure to coach and I am honored that I have the opportunity to watch her grow in the sport”.
“I’m extremely proud of the way she competed,” states her mom, South Florida PR specialist Yvette Harris. “What I love about Nya is that she works hard and really has fun with gymnastics. She competed on beam first and fell off. She could have just given up, but in true Nya form, she jumped right back up on the beam and finished perfectly. She embraced it and went on to do well in all of the other areas of the competition. Her mental attitude and work ethic is strong. I learn from her daily.”
This is the second year Harris-Middleton competed at AAU Gymnastics Age Group National Championship. She is looking forward to training this summer to qualify to move to level three.
