HIRAM — Crystal Yates is a name you may hear in 2016 in connection with the Summer Olympics.
The Paulding County 12 year old granddaughter of Cordele native Shirley Monson Childs has been performing gymnastic stunts since she was three, and currently, she is the senior division level 5 overall state champion.
Miss Yates earned that honor Nov. 21 at the state meet in Buford. Actually, she has held state titles at various levels since she began competing seven years ago at the age of 5.
“It’s in my blood,” she says. “I think I was turning somersaults in my mother’s womb.”
The lithe pre-teen competes as a member of the Paulding Gymnastics Team, and the vault is her favorite event. “It requires a lot of power and utilizes all my strength,” which the young athlete says she likes.
With a 9.35 score in the vault, she finished first in that event at the state meet. In fact, she was the only competitor among the 12 and 13 year olds to score above 9.0 in the vault.
She also finished first in the floor event with a 9.025 score. Her score on the bars was 9.15 which was good enough for a 6th place finish.
A score of 8.9 on the beam gave her a total score of 36.425 which was .200 of a point better than the second place performer from Lawrenceville.
Yates says she wants to continue competing in gymnastics for the rest of her life, and she has hopes of qualifying for the Olympics one day.
“I want to continue building my strength. I know that what I do today will affect my future.”
Yates admits to being a picky eater, but says that while she tries to eat healthy, she does splurge on the occasional candy bar and cookies.
An honors student whose ambition is to become a news anchor for CNN, Yates currently anchors a news report on TV in her school, Dobbins MIddle School in Hiram.
She has little time for other extracurricular activities. “My life is gymnastics, and it’s worth missing other things,” she says.
Rarely does she attend a football or basketball game at her school. She also misses school dances and spends her summers training when classmates are playing and goofing off.
Her younger sister, J’Nae Bryant is a competitive cheerleader, so often they are going in opposite directions. Ms. Childs says she accompanies one of the girls while their mother goes with the other.
A third sister, Monet Bryant is a bookworm, her grandmother says. She is determined to be a straight ‘A’ student and loves to read, but doesn’t seem to have that competitive spirit that her older sisters possess.
The three girls are the daughters of Herman and Valgenae Bryant of Douglasville, and Yates’ father is Ulysses Yates.
Her great grandmother is Susie Monson of Americus. She has two uncles who live in Cordele, Jason Childs and Antwoin Yowe.
Ms. Childs says she grew up in Cordele and graduated from Crisp County High School. For most of her adult life, she has lived in Paulding and Douglas Counties in northwest Georgia.
Local news
Related Photos
Young gymnast eyeing Olympics
- Local news
-
-
Burnette passes
Long-time resident and community leader Jean Burnette passed away Sunday. Burnette served the City of Cordele first as assistant city administrator from 1974 until 2000 when she became city administrator. She retained that position until her retirement in 2010.
-
Convenience store clerk, resident wounded in early Sunday shootings
A convenience food store owner leaving his business for the night and a man inside his home were wounded in shootings that occurred within a span of just over two hours early Sunday morning.
-
Beautiful gardens start now
Get out the shovel and trowels – Memorial Day weekend is almost here, and that means gardening for many.
-
FSA seeking photos for ag anniversary
One hundred and fifty years ago, in the midst of a great Civil War, President Lincoln signed legislation to establish a Department of Agriculture.
-
Fullington graduates get their diplomas
PINEHURST - "It is my prayer for each of you that in the face of adversity and defeat, you know who you are and what you stand for," Fullington Academy valedictorian Taylor Faircloth challenged her fellow graduates during commencement exercises in the school gym Friday night.
-
Faith Christian graduates four
VIENNA - Four young adults received their high school diplomas from Faith Christian School here Thursday night. Guest speaker for the event was Rev. John Dent, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Americus.
-
69 Wilcox grads receive diplomas
ROCHELLE — It was an emotional morning Saturday in the gym of Wilcox County High School as the 69 members of the graduating class received diplomas.
-
$750,000 worth of pot seized in Wilcox County
ROCHELLE — Authorities were continuing their search Saturday for the owner of a home where more than 150 marijuana plants with an astonishing street value of $750,000 were seized on Thursday.
-
Mayor warns cemetery vandals
Council members here handled a short agenda Monday night taking action on only two items of business.
-
City discusses taxes, litter
During its monthly work session Tuesday, City Commissioners heard a presentation on Local Option Sales Tax presented by Barry Hall with Governmental Enterprises.
- More Local news Headlines
-
Ex-Rutgers Student Gets 30 Days in Webcam Case
Obama Sees Inspiration in Joplin Graduates
Ravi Spared Prison in Rutgers Webcam Case
Miss. Prison Quiet After Riot; 1 Dead
Obama Confident Afghans Can Take Security Lead
Raw Video: Deadly Bombing at Yemen Parade Preps
Professor: Chinese Activist's 'Spirit Is Good'
Ring of Fire Eclipse Seen in U.S., Asia
Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates 75 Years
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Obama: G8 Unified in Stance on Iran, Syria
