Tumblin’ Nice: Teen Brothers from Fishers Qualify for Gymnastics Junior Olympics

Anton and Chris Stephenson pose with their matching gold medals from the Indiana State Men's Gymnastics Championships.

While growing up in tiny Mitchell, Indiana, Kim Stephenson says she never imagined she’d spend much of her adult life at a training gym. But that’s exactly where she and husband, Greg, find themselves nearly every evening – and with good reason. Sons Chris and Anton are accomplished gymnasts, both state champions who train at DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics in Fishers.

“My boys eat, breathe and sleep gymnastics,” said Kim. “Chris practices 21 hours a week, Anton 18 hours, 52 weeks a year. Their motto is ‘practice makes perfect, but perfect practice really makes perfect.’ They eat healthy diets and don’t drink soda – that’s just the way they’re designed. They are so disciplined.”

Such dedication by this Fishers family has paid big dividends. In March, each boy won his competition level at the Indiana State Men’s Gymnastics Competition in Evansville. Chris, 15, a freshman at Hamilton Southeastern High School, took top honors in Level 10, competing on the six traditional gymnastics apparatus: pommel horse, high bar, floor exercise, parallel bars, vault and still rings. Anton, 13, a 7th grader at Hamilton Southeastern Junior High, also won the all-around championship in Level 9 on the same apparatus.

The Stephenson family (left to right) Greg, Chris, Anton, and Kim.

“I’m not aware of brothers both winning in the same year. They are state champions – nobody beat them! And for both to come home with a title is very significant,” marveled Mom.

Following the regional competition (Chris finished 15th all-around, Anton 10th), the two qualified for the Men’s Junior Olympics Nationals, May 4-9 in Knoxville, Tennessee, where future Olympians will likely be competing. Governed by Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, such competitions are feeders into the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics training program.

“It’s like the Super Bowl of men’s gymnastics,” explained Kim. “Nine regions each send about 50 boys to the JO Nationals. Chris and Anton will be competing against the best of the best.”

Such success doesn’t come easily – or cheaply. Kim and Greg insist that the boys complete all homework before attending evening training sessions, for which the couple pays $600 a month and requires two trips daily except Sunday. Many hundreds of additional dollars are spent for uniforms, fees and the like.

“You have no idea of the time commitment. We’re lucky to live only 15 minutes from DeVeau’s,” said Kim. “The boys have competed in Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, Colorado Springs and elsewhere. With airfare and lodging we spend boatloads of money on gymnastics. Why? Because the boys are physically and mentally healthy, we love the coaches and gym, and we value healthy competition.”

The discipline required of competitive gymnastics is especially helpful to Chris, who as a young child had obsessive compulsive tendencies.

“For Chris, it keeps him focused. Gymnastics was a dream come true and it is still working,” said Kim.

While a spot on a U.S. Olympic team is a distant dream, the family’s immediate goal is scholarships for the boys in top collegiate programs. After nationals the duo heads back to the gym to work on new skills – a routine they’ve kept since age four. Kim, a Lawrence Township teacher, concedes that all the practice time leaves her missing Chris and Anton.

“I’m sometimes sad not seeing them at home, but I’m good with that. They’re the coolest kids ever.”