Anna Rose Johnson:
Doni Thompson is a former U.S. National Team member. She was coached during her most successful elite days by the Forsters at Colorado Aerials; Doni became a member of the bronze medal-winning 1995 U.S. World Championships team.
She took a break from gymnastics to compete in diving before returning to her first sport in 1998. She eventually began competing in NCAA gymnastics for UCLA, winning a team title in 2001 and placing second on uneven bars at the 2002 NCAA Championships. We caught up with Doni to see what she’s up to now!
Inside: What have you been up to lately?
Doni: The last five years have been exciting with a move to Iowa and the opening of my gym, Eyas Gymnastics.
Eyas is a predominately boys’ gymnastics program that runs out of the University of Iowa. My husband, JD Reive, is the Head Men’s Gymnastics coach at the University and our mission has always been to provide opportunities and education to help propagate the men’s side of the sport in the surrounding communities associated with a varsity program.
The transition into boys’ gymnastics was accidental, as I fell into it in California by helping my husband run his club program while he was the assistant at Stanford. I fell in love with it and have never looked back. I am excited to say that I had three boys that qualified to the Future Stars National Championships in Colorado Springs. It was a great opportunity for my program and a wonderful chance to hang out in my old stomping grounds.
Click PLAY or watch Eyas Gymnastics video on YouTube. The theme is falling … and getting back up.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 