Flipping for Fitness — AdultGymnastics.com fills a much-needed niche

Tempe, AZ - December 8, 2003 -In an effort to support the growing trend of adult interest in gymnastics fitness and recreation, Scott Dahlem has created AdultGymnastics.com to cater exclusively to the needs of the mature gymnast.

"Currently, less than ten percent of gymnastics clubs offer instruction for adults," said Dahlem, who came late to the sport. "AdultGymnastics.com attempts to negate some of these difficulties by not only educating the interested public but also by educating gymnastics club owners and coaches, and providing them a place to make their adult classes known on the World Wide Web."

Inspired at the 1984 Olympics by Mary Lou Retton's performance, Scott was 15 years old when he began pursuing the sport, an age he refers to as "very old for gymnastics." He later became a field correspondent for local, regional and national gymnastic competitions, has served as a regional columnist for International Gymnast Magazine and he continues to compete in the sport.

"I created AdultGymnastics.com because I saw that there were people over the age of 18 who want to pursue gymnastics and I wanted to create a community for them," said Dahlem. "They may not be Olympic caliber athletes but they want to pursue the sport for personal enjoyment. I designed the site as a portal for them."

Conventionally viewed as a sport for children, gymnastics is a rapidly growing trend for adults. According to a November 2003 article in The Washington Post, there are numerous fitness benefits for the mature gymnast including improved reflexes, coordination, agility, balance, muscle strength and general stamina. CBS reported in an article last year that Peter Kormann, the first male American gymnast to win an Olympic medal, termed adult interest in gymnastics "an unbelievable growth phenomenon."

"I hope that people who visit AdultGymnastics.com will discover that there are opportunities for adults in the sport," said Dahlem. "Just because you do not see us on TV doesn't mean we're not out here."