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Miamisburg youngster earns second consecutive gold medal at Junior Olympics

10-year old Kyle Campbell of Miamisburg recently won a gold medal in trampoline and tumbling in the Junior Olympic Trampoline and Tumbling Nationals in San Jose, Calif.

/Contributed photo 10-year old Kyle Campbell of Miamisburg recently won a gold medal in trampoline and tumbling in the Junior Olympic Trampoline and Tumbling Nationals in San Jose, Calif.

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By Kristin McAllister, Staff Writer 9:30 AM Wednesday, July 29, 2009

MIAMISBURG — What began as a tool to help their 5-year-old out of an awkward stage escalated into the making of a junior Olympic trampoline and tumbling champion.

Gretchen and Steve Campbell of Miamisburg recognized early on the athletic talent with which their little boy, Kyle, had been blessed.

Having participated in gymnastics in his youth, Steve Campbell thought his childhood sport might be a solid fit in helping Kyle, now 10, gain balance and coordination.

“We could see his athletic ability, but never did we expect this,” he said. “We never had a clue just how good he was. We’re really proud of him and his teammates, because what they do, it’s not an everyday thing.”

Kyle and four of his teammates from the AeroDynamics Trampoline & Tumbling Team in Springboro recently attended the Junior Olympic Trampoline and Tumbling Nationals in San Jose, Calif., where 1,632 athletes from 37 states competed, and Kyle won a gold medal in trampoline and in tumbling.

It was Kyle’s second consecutive year for winning the gold in trampoline.

“I can’t even tell you the feeling of when you watch him and the intensity of being at the competitions,” Steve said.

Kyle points to teammate Gwen Johnson, who’s been out on an injury, for his continued success.

“She pushes me a lot, and I like that,” Kyle said.

Interestingly, Kyle said his sport can be deceiving to the observer.

“It looks really easy, but actually gets harder, because you have to go up levels, and that’s hard,” he said.

Asked how he feels soaring above the trampoline or tumbling mat, and Kyle says, “Confident.”

It’s that kind of positive self-esteem that Kyle’s mother, Gretchen, credits to both the sport and Kyle’s head coach, Melissa Butler.

Butler trains the team at the Hand 2 Hand Acrobatic Training Center in Springboro.

“She has been so great,” Gretchen said. “She pushes him — the whole team — and that’s hard, because it’s a very individualized sport, but you’re really part of a team. And she’s really, very good at encouraging them as a team.”

Kyle and his family also credited his teammates for excelling at the San Jose competition.

“We’re really proud of all of them,” Gretchen said. “They all work so hard and did such a great job.”

For more information and team results, call (937) 743-1466, or go to www.hand2hand.cc.

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