Sarah DeMeo, a 14-year-old standout who trains at the Great American Gymnastic Express (GAGE) in Blue Springs, headed into her first international meet with just one goal.
"I wanted to represent my country and GAGE to the best of my ability," said the freshman at Blue Valley High School, before a recent training session with coaches Al and Armine Fong.
She exceeded her expectations as she claimed a first-place medal on the beam and placed second in the all-around at the recent Top Gym Championships at Charleroi, Belgium.
"She was just incredible," said Fong, who coached former U.S. Olympic silver medal gymnasts Courtney McCool and Terin Humphrey. "This event was a like a coming-out party, or a debutante's ball," he quipped. "It's a junior event where you make a name for yourself and you attract the attention of all the coaches who will be selecting the members of the U.S. team.
"And Sarah certainly achieved that goal. Everyone was talking about her performance."
DeMeo makes a 60-mile round trip from Stilwell, Kan., every day to train with Fong and his wife, and her performance at the Belgium meet just reinforced her desire to train with two of the best coaches in the nation.
"I'd go anywhere to train with Al and Armine," she said. "They have helped me so much. I didn't know what to expect at the meet in Belgium, but they had me so prepared that I just treated it like any other meet."
DeMeo is quick to admit that the beam is her favorite event.
"I love it," she said. "I climbed on a beam when I was a little kid and thought it would be neat to compete in that event and I have loved it ever since. I'm not afraid of it at all. I'm cautious, but not afraid."
DeMeo and Fong spent a week in Belgium and were able to get out and see the countryside.
"We got to do a little bit of traveling," she said. "We went to a market and saw how the people lived. It was very interesting."
The sterling performance places DeMeo among the top young gymnasts in the nation.
"The 2007 world championships are coming up," Fong said, "and Sarah will be going to the training camp. She should have a lot of confidence after doing so well in Belgium."
Reach Bill Althaus at bill.althaus@examiner.net or 350-6395.
