Todd Thornton’s blog

The United States Olympic Training Center was host to America’s greatest and most talented junior gymnasts during the week of June 25th 2007. Our guests included USA Junior Champion Danell Leyva of Universal, who won his age group at the 2006 USA Championships. This presented the perfect opportunity to debut “Junior Spotlight.” It didn’t take long before I knew which athlete I wanted to have a chat with.It was the first day of the training camp and Allan Bower had made his presence known. In this instance it was hard work, listening to his coach, and demonstrating difficult skills flawlessly. I remember working out on High Bar with Allan; after every turn he would go up to his coach Chris Sommer, listen to everything he had to say, then focus on how to improve his next attempt. Allan does one of the most difficult skills on Parallel Bars where he starts in a Handstand, lets go with one hand, falls so his heals lead the way, does a total of one full turn and catches the bar blindly with his free hand. He not only makes the skill, he executes it as good as anyone I have seen in my career.Allan is twelve years old, and trains at Xtreme with Chris Sommer. He started doing gymnastics at the age of two in 1997. Allan is the oldest of three children, he has a brother Alex who is six years old, and Allison who is ten. A gymnastics family, as the three A’s, Allison, Alex, and Allan are currently in gymnastics. When Allan is not training he enjoys ridding his bike, and hanging out with friends. He also plays games on the computer, including Runescape. Other than gymnastics he likes to play football and basketball. The Phoenix Suns are his favorite NBA team. Allan’s Ultimate goals are to compete on World and Olympic Teams. As far as short term goals, he wants to continue learning big skills like a Kovacs on Horizontal Bar.Allan’s Accomplishments include 2006 Parallel Bars Champion, Silver on Parallel Bars in 2007, and Tenth in the All Around in 2007. I was extremely impressed when I got to see Allan Train during the National Team Camp. I am looking forward to watching this young man grow into what ever he wants to become in this sport. He has the talent, and work ethic to accomplish great things.Allan’s Athlete Profile

 

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Name: Allan Bower

Birth Date: 03/07/1995

Program: Men’s Artistic

Level: Junior 12-13

Club: Xtreme

Coach: Chris Sommer

Personal Information

Began Gymnastics In: 1997

How did you get involved?: My parents started me in gymnastics when I was 2 years old. My mother was a gymnastics coach.

Favorite Gymnastics Thing: the hard work that gymnastics requires, the friends you make, how it makes you feel

Favorite Event: Parallel Bars

Goals: Continue to make the National Team every year, compete in the Olympic Games and World Championships some day

School: Navarrete Elementary

Grade: 6th Grade

Favorite School Subject: Science

Interests Outside the Gym

Favorite Music/Book: Narnia

Favorite Food: steak, ice cream

Hobbies: working on the computer

New Skills as of July 1, 2007

Double front on Floor Exercise

Wu travel on the Pommel Horse

National Competition Results

2006 Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships, Battle Creek, Mich.: 1st-PB; 13th-AA

2007 Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla.: 2nd-PB; 10th-AA