Long Fact & Fiction by Grace Taylor

    These short story lines are based on a true story. However, some of the facts below are made up or embellished upon to protect the feelings of the author.

Story line #1: "Small Tear and Major Fat Pad Pain"
    Thinking back over my Nationals Fall from Grace, I should have petitioned directly to the camp. However, story line #2 tells why that was impossible.
    On May 15th, during my touch warm-up vault at the US Classic, a double twisting Yurchenko (I was really only practicing a full twisting one, but who wants to say they crashed on only a full? Double twisting sounds so much more dramatic), I landed low and hurt my knee. That is why I only did a Yurchenko timer for that meet.
    After X-rays and a MRI, it was determined that I had a small tear by my menisiocapsular junction (sp.? I can't read the good Dr.'s handwriting. But he was very nice.) and I had a bone/patella ligament contusion. All I know is that it REALLY hurt bad and that I have an inflamed fat pad there, which has lots and lots of nerves in it.

My MRI

    I skipped the Team Cup and flew back to Aiken for therapy. I was iced, shocked, and massaged daily. The good Dr. limited rotational maneuvers (What skills does that leave open?) and my physical therapist put me on a "build the knee back up plan."

Darcy & Me

    My coaches and I decided to forget the Yurchenko for Nationals. I wasn't allowed to twist on my knee. We also decided not to do floor twisting until we needed to do it at Nationals. I spent a lot of time on bars and beam instead.
    What I can't figure out is - why did I fall off the events I practiced? And the events I did not practice, I made. (Maybe the answer is in story line #3). Does this mean that practice makes less perfect?
    Epilogue: I am finally shock free. As of June 18th I had my last treatment. My bruise has completely disappeared (I still have some swelling but it doesn't hurt). I am now sporting an all-natural tan. And no body parts hurt.

Story line #2: "Date troubles and double entendres "
    When I checked my social calendar in March, I realized I had choices to make. The gym, including me, was signed up to go to a camp for a week in July (This camp wasn't in Houston). My coaches were going to Europe in June for some much needed R&R. And I had a Sweet 16 Birthday Tea to go to June 27th.

Em, Julie Ann & Me

    I asked the FIG if they could reschedule the Olympics. Athens was open to the idea of postponing it for a few months. But the FIG committee seemed to have scheduling issues of their own. We chatted about what dates we both had open. We temporarily penciled in the Fall of 2005 in Sydney.
    My coaches called the National Staff to let them know our plans. They agreed that they could manage without me until the Fall* of 2004.
*It wasn't until after Nationals that my coaches explained to me they meant October 2004, and not literally for me to Fall in 2004.

Story line #3: "Will the real Grace Taylor stand up" (After the falls)
    After dealing with all the pain from my knee, and realizing that I wasn't going to the Olympics because of scheduling issues, I decided not to compete at Nationals. I met another gymnast who was sitting out the meet. We compared Dr. stories and plans for our summer. She mentioned she was going to camp in July also. I think hers WAS in Houston. She also gave me some advice on how to get to the Hard Rock Café. I had a meeting there with my publicists and their support staff. We had reserved a private room there for security reasons. Not for my protection, but I guess they are quite famous in gymnastic circles.
    While there we discussed their summer plans and what academic establishments they attended. Now that I have taken my SAT's and scored 800 in each category (Well, I did score above 600 in each one), I too can attend a University. I wonder if they let you do gymnastics there?
    I know what you are thinking. If I was out enjoying life in Nashville, who was competing using my competition number? Well, it was my stunt double, my twin sister, Phoebe. She was born five years after me. Sometimes she fills in for me. She competed Recreational Optional and won the State All Around Title before taking on the job of Elite Stunt Double. Up close you can notice the difference. She has hair and I don't. But down on the podium it is too dark to notice.

Both photos are of Phoebe (REALLY)

    From far away can you tell the difference? The only major difference is that she falls a few times. She is still working on the bar releases. She thinks she is supposed to release the bar after she catches it. She's young and next year she should have the new skills down. There was also a bit of confusion when Phoebe tried to give Annia my touch warm-up time on beam. She knew the meet counted for Annia and wanted to help her any way she could. My coaches weren't too happy about that.
    We did have to switch back roles after the meet. Phoebe is not comfortable signing autographs. I on the other hand enjoy meeting people, who enjoy meeting people, who enjoy meeting people. The State of SC made me a beautiful banner. They also came out to cheer me on. Their support has meant a lot to me. We have the greatest STATE.

    Seriously, I will sometime write about my Nationals experience. For now, I am enjoying not thinking about it. I am back at the gym working hard. I have a few surprises for this FALL. Maybe something you have never seen before.

    I looked online to see who made it to the selection camp. I am excited for the US Team going to Athens. I remember standing behind the BLACK curtain two years ago with Courtney during the naming of the National Team. I am so proud of how much she has accomplished. I wish her and everyone else the best. I will be praying that no one gets hurt. They have worked hard, and I hope they get a chance to show it to the world. For those of us who won't be there in Athens, look at Courtney for inspiration. I am. :)

                                          Grace :)
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February, March, April 2004 Update

    I finally got my film developed from January. It looks like professional photographers have nothing to fear. Most of my prints were dark and fuzzy :( So I have enlisted the aid of a family friend to help recreate what has been happening.

January Camp: For those who like to keep up with the latest fashions, Grover is wearing the leotard from the Japan meet. He is also demonstrating the new torture device we use at gym. The BALL! It can find muscles you didn't think you had. They even have some of these at camp.

    While I was at the Japan Meet, my sisters and brother played "While you were out." They packed up all my mementos and moved out my old furniture. I have been sleeping in Barbie pink for the last two years. It was the color my sisters had when they were in that room. The floor was still plywood with scatter rugs. (We built our house with the upstairs only partially finished.) My siblings videotaped the whole thing. Even dressing up Barbies in leotards and filming them at a mock Training Center. They would ask the Barbies (supposedly team members) questions which I would have to answer correctly when I returned, to win prizes for my new room. This makeup mirror was prize #1. The full-length mirror was prize #2. And the changing screen/room divider which hides my desk for satellite school was prize #3. I now have a sage/fossil colored room. I also have boxes full of mementos which I still haven't unpacked. I am enjoying the uncluttered look.

January Sand Dollar meet? I don't remember it. (I wish). Actually, I have a vague picture of someone twisting their foot in an unnatural way. I also remember a very tall man who said hi to me. In case I forgot to say it, "HI back to you :)" But, I do remember Disney!

February Camp Highlights: Some of the girls scheduled to be at this camp couldn't make it. Bianca, Morgan, and I had a cabin all to ourselves. That was kinda fun. Allyse turned 16 at camp. I finally became a member of the 36 AA club. We had a spa night before we left. I chose a massage and manicure.

Small World: Years ago, when my coaches were over at my house for dinner, we were looking at some of my Dads gymnastics photographs. He did gymnastics at Clemson and also liked taking pictures (He would drive to International meets and photograph the gymnasts. Then he would go home to his dark room in his parents house and develop them). My coaches recognized one of the gymnasts he had photographed and asked if they could keep the picture. It turns out that they coached her at one time. And now she is the coach of Maartje Allebes who is from the Netherlands. My Dad didn't know my Mom, much less that there would be a me, when he took the photograph of Katka Sarisska. If he knew that I would be sitting at a banquet/party with her in 2004, I am sure he would of told her HI.

Sweet 16: Thank you All! I absolutely love d my photo album*. It was definitely a surprise. I was feeling a little low about the decision not to go to camp. I understood that it was better to back off bars and vault to prevent a stress fracture in my other wrist (Which included wearing a cooked like a soft shell, taco, brace). And that it would be nice for my level 10 teammates to have their coaches at their Regional meet (Where Sally placed 8th AA and is an alternate for Nationals). But I had great plans for camp. I was going to teach crocheting. I saw how much the scarf's were marked up at the American Classic. Just think of the money we could make if the team sold scarves at our meets. Here is a picture of two scarves I made in less than a day. They had a snowstorm during the Friendship Classic meet just so I could model them.

* My Mom decided to put an album together for my birthday gift. Originally, it was to be a picture montage. But, there were so many nice letters included that she made it into an album. She titled it "Touched by Grace". It was full of people who I have met during my gymnastics years. I joked with her on the way home from gym that it would be nice to have a party with some of my friends. But they lived in other States. Then, when I saw that they had sent cards and pictures I started to cry. Thank you. I still have a few spaces empty. If you are named Morgan or Sara then I am still waiting for your picture. If you are named Sandy or Barbara I would like to thank you for the pictures you sent of me. However, I still have a spot left open for a picture of you. I also have a space for Jennifer's photography friends. My Mom says she thinks she saw you (Jennifer) in Pennsylvania but didn't know who you were. Now she does. She also met Lloyd, Gordon and Ruth. Lloyd is not the 40-50 year old man that my Mom imagined. I think she was judging his age by the professional quality of his work. Lloyd you are now in my album. I would send you a copy of this picture, but it is one of yours. Pictured below: Jennifer Baiocco pictured in my album.

    What does every 16 year old girl want for her birthday? That's right, a laptop so she can always have her SAT Kaplan Course handy. Now even when I go to camp I will have the opportunity to study. Think of all the school reports I can type out while staying at the hotels instead of spending time at the pool. It's perfect. IF every once in a while a song or movie happen to be playing on it or if I should be forced to email my friends, well that's life. You have to learn to adjust. Take the good with the bad.

May Forecast: Practice has been going well. I still have shock therapy for my wrist, but there is no pain and the x-rays show no damage. It looks like I'll be in New York.

                                          Grace
   

Change in Plans!

    The Japan camp was a lot of fun. Of course arriving late at night and waking everybody up was not the best way to say hello. But it seems that even if we don't get snow in the South, the snow from the North messes up air-travel. I wasn't the last one in though. But I think I was the last to leave. (I have a hazy memory of being awakened early in the morning and giving hugs good-bye). Because of scheduling issues I was forced to go shopping with the Japanese team. It was rough. But I do have a great sweater and shirt to show for it. I also now can count to ten in Japanese.

    I leave Friday for Florida. Considering the meet is at Disney World, my family is requiring I participate with them while they spend a day there. Being the dutiful daughter that I am, I will oblige them.

* My coaches and I have re-arranged my schedule again. There are so many meets and only two of them for the entire optional team. After Florida I will be going to Virginia Beach. And then back to camp. Because my coaches are also going with me to California, they are going to go to the Charleston Cup with the rest of the team instead of the Podium meet. I will miss hearing the commentations (new word) from this years videos. I had a bomb listening to last years. :)

    If I ever finish my roll of film from the last camp I will post some pictures. I will bring it with me to Florida. Hopefully, I can finish it up there.

                                          Grace
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Update for the New Year

   I have changed my schedule. Instead of going to camp on the 10th, I will be at the Japan/USA training camp. I've been working hard and its feels good to be back doing all four events again. :) I have a loooong way to go before the Classic, but I'm happy and looking forward to sharing a week with my friends at camp.

Grace's Gymnastics New Year Resolutions:

1. Compete my new floor routine. I have had it choreographed since last year. I just can't stay injury free long enough to get my tumbling up to speed. Hopefully, this will be the year. (But, it won't be at the Japan meet. I am still trying to make my old routines.)
2. Make it to Nationals. That will help me with number 3.
3. Make the Senior National Team.
4. Help M&M's find their color. The winner becomes the new owner of a 2004 Volkswagen® New Beetle® Convertible GLS. To help me win this contest I have converted a conditioning exercise, which I used after fracturing my wrist. It was originally designed with rice. It is used to build up the muscles in the fingers. First you buy a bag of M&M's. Then you put them in the dish. Finally, ever so gently you move your fingers around in the dish.

5. Admitting that I can't do gym, school and… answer the, "Ask Grace" questions which people have written me. So I have picked two questions to answer today. And then I'll try to answer more at another date.

Well, that's enough for now. Hopefully, I'll write more before 2005 .

                                          Grace :)
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