At 16, Li Lu reached a gymnast’s ultimate goal. She scored a perfect 10 for her performance on the uneven bars and left the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona with a gold medal for uneven bars and a silver for the balance beam. Today, Lu is working toward another goal – to help young gymnasts fulfill their dreams.
“Gymnastics is my greatest joy, and I am happy to have the opportunity to share my achievements with the children,” said Lu, who last year immigrated to the United States from China. “I want to help them become great gymnasts.”
Lu recently relocated to the Bay Area and is coaching at Gold Star Gymnastics Academy in Mountain View. She shares her skills with children from all over the mid-Peninsula, honing the performances of the academy’s competition team and nurturing the abilities of Gold Star’s youngest students.
Lu spent the last five years perfecting her coaching skills as the assistant coach of the Chinese Women’s Gymnastic Team at Beijing University. Lu said she has embraced the opportunity to teach younger gymnasts because they are so full of promise.
“Seeing a child’s face light up when they perfect a move makes me very happy,” Lu said. “Their confidence grows with their skills.”
Gold Star owner Cynthia Zirpolo said Lu’s talent has been a tremendous addition to her coaching staff.
“Li Lu brings a high level of technical expertise and very seasoned coaching abilities to Gold Star and the mid-Peninsula,” Zirpolo said. “She offers a great benefit to the children of the community.”
Founded in 1996, Gold Star offers classes to nearly 1,000 students annually. Boys and girls of all ages learn techniques in a full range of gymnastics events, including parallel and uneven bars, balance beam, vault, floor, rings, pommel horse and trampoline. The academy’s “Baby Stars” class caters to toddlers as young as a year and a half.
“We strive to create an environment where children can learn to challenge themselves in a safe, fun and encouraging atmosphere,” Zirpolo said. “Our programs are designed to help children build their skills and self-confidence so they can feel good about themselves.”
Lu is every bit a part of that philosophy.
“Gymnastics is supposed to be enjoyable,” she said. “I encourage my students to work hard to perfect their technique, but I remind them to have fun.”
Gold Star is located at 92 West El Camino Real, Mountain View. For more information, call 694-STAR.
