Olympic Gymnastics History

As a teenager Beth Stone always dreamed of having her own gymnastics school in her backyard. She trained in the sport and made her plans for 8 years until in 1978 her mother funded Solar Gym at the corner of Gilbert and McKellips in Mesa.

Solar Gym moved to Lindsay & Main in 1983, McKellips and Lindsay in 1986 and Baseline and Horne when it merged with Olympic Gymnastics and became JJ's Olympic Action (now USA Gymnastics) in 1990.

Beth sold out to her partner and started Olympic Gymnastics with her son, Jason in 1999. They had originally planned to build on their property at Higley and Guadalupe in the back yard, but concern from neighbors made them reconsider, and they leased for 7 years at Guadalupe and Recker in Gilbert.

Although the concept of Olympic Gymnastics was to stay small and compete only up to level 6 gymnastics, the enrollment grew quickly and the level of gymnasts rose. After only 3 years, there were girls preparing to compete at optional level 7. Most of these girls did not want to transfer to another gym and leave Jason and Beth, so Olympic Gym - Mesa was opened.

The Mesa facility was larger, with higher ceilings and could accommodate the higher level athletes, although evaporative cooling was a definite down side. Gymnasts from both gyms have been very successful in competitions these past 4 years, with some going on to regional competitions.

May was the last month of the leases at both facilities. It was decided again not to build in the backyard of the Higley and Guadalupe home but to search for another commercial location between the two gyms and combine back to one facility. 5222 E. Baseline is the perfect fit. It is located on the border of Mesa/Gilbert, is larger than either of the other facilities, has 24' ceilings, air conditioning, lots of windows, parking and other wonderful features. The move should be complete middle to late June 2007.