According to this article, Kathryn Howard did it - senior year, no prom...but she was homeschooled anyways. "Gymnast graduates early to compete for UNL" - http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2007/02/07/Sports/Gymnast.Graduates.Early.To.Compete.For.Unl-2701861.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailynebraskan.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com [quote]The 18-year-old Houston native is used to her lifestyle: classes, gymnastics practice, study, sleep and repeat. "I love staying busy and having something to do all the time," Howard said. "In college, classes and practice have kept me real busy."[/quote] good that she is having fun what she's doing. seems like most college students want to get more of the overall 'college experience', as people put it. [quote]In high school, Howard's day was consumed with gymnastics. The drive to Cypress Gymnastics, where she trained, was 80 minutes each way; add on five hours of practice and schooling in the morning, and her day was done. Some weeks she would be in the gym 30 to 40 hours, all the while maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. All her work paid off in the end. She was a Level 10 competitor and was the 2006 Texas State Balance Beam Champion, which she won with a score of 9.8.[/quote]

that kind of reminds me of the movie "Stick It" and how that girl decides not to miss her prom.

I don't see why people make such a big deal about missing the high school prom for gymnastics. I missed my prom to travel interstate for a national competition. I don't regret it at all. I had an awesome time travelling away with friends, having fun in the hotel and competing nationals. I saw a video of the prom and it didn't look half as much fun.

Nationals is awesome. I don't think it's a big deal that you missed prom to go to Nationals. People probably would get it, but still say 'aww'. Prom is the biggest dance party event in high school, but Nationals is a big event too, it's not like you missed it for gymnastics training that you could reschedule and work around with. People do make a big deal out of it anyways. It's really about what you enjoy doing though. You probably wouldn't have so much fun at the dance thinking about your gymnastics competition. In the case of the article the gymnast missed her prom because she skipped senior year. It's probably hard for people not in high-level sports / gymnastics to get it. It wouldn't make much sense to do senior year just for a prom. Skipping a grade isn't so hot though...

Gael Mackie graduating high school early, going for college gymnastics with Utah's Red Rocks instead of international competition: [quote]Mackie decided to graduate high school early to attend college rather than continue international competition. "I am 99.9 percent sure she is coming," head coach Greg Marsden said. There is one step yet to complete. Mackie and the Red Rocks are waiting for Mackie's high school diploma to be awarded by the Ministry of Education and sent to the NCAA for approval. The Ministry of Education represents an additional step to graduating high school in Canada that is not present in the United States. Canadian graduates must be approved by the government in the form of the Ministry, rather than by high schools, as is the case in America. "We're hoping that (her transcripts are approved) at the end of this week, next week at the latest," Marsden said. As soon as the NCAA announces Mackie's eligibility, then "it's just a matter of her getting a plane flight and being here," Marsden said. Mackie is already registered for classes next semester and has a room reserved at the Residence Halls. She expects to arrive in Utah by Dec. 26.[/quote] The reason: [quote]"It was a combination of good coaching and team, gymnastics tradition and academics," Mackie said.[/quote] Mackie wants to compete AA. [quote]"That will depend on (coach Marsden)." she said. Marsden has onlyseen tape of Mackie's performance, so she isn't sure in which events she will compete.[/quote] She visited Utah in March and again in November though. [quote]"I like challenging myself, and I've always wanted to go to college," Mackie said.[/quote]

That's an awesome recruit for Utah. Gael Mackie was a member of the Canadian 2004 Athens, Greece Olympics team. [quote]As a 16-year-old, Mackie competed for Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Mackie's international portfolio also includes gold-medal performances in the all-around and on vault, bars and beam at the 2007 Friendship Classic, a fourth-place all-around showing and a bronze medal on the beam at the 2002 WOGA Classic, and a seventh-place all-around mark (the best by a Canadian) and a silver medal on the beam at the 2002 Pacific Alliance meet. In 2003, Mackie won the Canadian Senior National all-around championship. She captured the junior national title the previous year. She also won junior national titles on vault and floor in 2002 and on vault in 2001, while placing second on bars in 2002. Mackie won Elite Canada championships on the uneven bars in 2002 and the balance beam in 2003. [/quote] Utah Gymnastics Gael Mackie's official website: http://www.gaelmackie.net Training video clips from Monday, Nov. 5 at Omega Gymnastics in Vancouver Videos of Gael Mackie: http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?p=14562#14562

In high school, Howard's day was consumed with gymnastics. The drive to Cypress Gymnastics, where she trained, was 80 minutes each way,add on five hours of practice and schooling in the morning, and her day was done.Des Moines Jujitsu