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Photo by Sammy Jo Hester Meet Everyday Hero-Aimee Walker Pond March 5, 2016, 8:12 amAimee was born deaf and blind in one eye, and shared her story of becoming an elite gymnast. No studio would agree to teach her as a child, so she eased into a class through the back door, pretending, for a short time, to be her cousin. The coach figured out pretty quickly Aimee was deaf and made a deal that she would teach Aimee gymnastics if Aimee would teach her sign language. Aimee took the deal and never looked back. She competed for UCLA, then BYU. In that time she reached the level of International Elite, which no one else with similar disabilities has ever accomplished. She learned through her sport to never give up, but also to ask for help when she needed it. This is the message to those affected by depression, as well. "We all have challenges, but we can do anything if we try and don't doubt ourselves. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for help," Pond said to the students through an interpreter. Over a thousand kids heard her message of hope and hard work trumping adversity. "You just have to roll up your sleeves and keep working no matter what," she said. "You can do it. You're strong, you're courageous, you're brilliant, you're young, you're beautiful and handsome, you're all different but all wonderful." Aimee and her husband, Derek Pond, own and operate a gym in Saratoga Springs called Champions Sports Center, where fitness classes and gymnastics are taught. More information can be found at championssportscentercsc.com The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Photo by: Sammy Jo Hester ©
Source: heraldextra.com |
