Support Alayah: Young Gymnast's Journey

Hi Everyone! My name is Alayah and I am 11 years old and a Level 7 gymnast at Gymtegrity Gymnastics. I am raising money to help pay my competition fees and to help send me to state and regionals! I am the youngest on my team, with all my teammates bring 14-21 years old.

Here is my gymnastics story: I started doing gymnastics in 2015 at the age of 2, doing mommy & me classes at many rec centers around the city. After my first class, I would always do summersaults all over the house. Between that and dancing, my parents quickly had to get rid of any coffee tables or obstacles that would be in my way in the house.

At the age of 4, I started my first preschool class at Dardanos Gymnastics. I excelled quickly and was passing my teammates up in skills. When I turned 5, I started doing private classes with the coaches learning up-skills in addition to doing Advanced Preschool classes. I found my niche, I loved gymnastics more than anything in the world, and whenever I had the chance, I was doing flips or handstands everywhere I went (I was even doing cartwheels down the aisle at the grocery store), it was time to go somewhere that challenged.

In 2019, I enrolled at Gymtegrity Gymnastics where I was placed into the Women's Developmental Compulsory Program. This program starts the introduction of competitive gymnastics scaling levels 2 through 5. They have set routines they learn for each event to ensure mastery of skill and safe progression. At the age of 6, I was the youngest Level 2 gymnast on my team. Each year, I grew more and more, advancing to the next level and always learning new skills which gave me the challenge I needed. Throughout my time in the Compulsory program, I have earned more medals than I can count. Everyone tells me that I am a role model to many of the younger girls in the gym, but I am just doing what I love and making sure that I include all the girls around me so we can grow together!

In 2024, a new coach started with Gymtegrity who worked with Simone Biles, and many of the gymnasts known as the "Final Five" and their world famous coach Marta Karolyi. Within 2 weeks of him coaching me, he met with my parents and told them that I was working so hard that it was time to move to the Women's Optional team, The Development Optional Program is levels 6-10, and far more advanced. With that, at the age of 11, Alayah was placed on the Optional team as a Level 7. Once again, the youngest gymnast in the program, others ranging from 13-21 years of age. She will start her competitive season in January when we will travel to Vegas for her first meet as a level 7.

Alayah has been a competitive gymnast for only 6 years and has the story of one in college. She's been blessed enough to meet Simone Biles and attend both of the Gold Over America Tours in Denver, where she gets to watch and learn from many of her favorite gymnasts and role models. She is a Junior Denver Broncos Cheerleader, performing at Broncos Games, MSU & DU Soccer and Basketball games, as well as events supporting individuals with Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes. She has also been featured in multiple summer youth events for Blow the Trumpet ministries. In doing all of this, Alayah has maintained a 3.7 GPA in her schoolwork at DSST: Montview Middle School, and has a goal to attend The University of Denver and compete at the college level.

Now, I am heading to state on March 22nd in Loveland and then Regionals in April in Wichita, KS. I am hoping that you will help support me in my journey to success. I thank you in advance for your support.