Olympic athletes tour the country every four years after the Olympics. Byrne, who practices her routines four hours a day, five days a week, and is rated a level 10 gymnast, was one of three young North Florida gymnasts invited to participate. I got to meet a lot of people. The Fort Clarke Middle School seventh grader began practicing gymnastics at age 7. Last summer she competed in the level-nine category at nationals.
Levels measure a gymnast's competence and expertise.
Once a level is mastered, a gymnast can move up to the next category. All Olympic gymnasts are rated elite gymnasts. The head coach of the team came up and told me I did well. In fact, said Baker, she did great. Mary Lee Tracey, one of the Olympic coaches, said Rachel did one of the best jobs of all the young gymnasts across the country.