East Texas Trampoliner Chasing Olympic Gold

A world-class gymnast from east Texas, whose specialty is the trampoline, is ready to make history Saturday when she competes in the Women's Trampoline event at the London Olympics.

Two time U.S. National Champion Savannah Vinsant was born in Louisiana, but she lived in Newton just east of Lufkin until three years ago, when she moved back to Louisiana to train for the Olympics.

USA Gymnastics reports Savannah took up gymnastics at the age of seven, and found her calling on the trampoline a few years later.

NBC Olympics says she was on the U.S. trampoline team that finished 4th in the team competition at 2011 Worlds in Birmingham, England. By finishing 10th in the qualifying round, Vinsant secured the United States an entry into the women’s trampoline competition at the London Olympics.

You may be interested to know that prayer is a big part of  her life.  Savannah says  she always takes time to pray before practices and competitions. She says praying clears her mind and soothes her.

The Gymnastics/Women's Trampoline qualifying and finals are scheduled for Saturday morning at 8am, and we can only hope NBC will carry it on one of their half dozen cable networks.  Whether we see it on TV or not, all of east Texas and Louisiana are pulling for Savannah.