NORTHRIDGE : Special Olympics Gymnasts to Compete

Mentally and physically disabled athletes from six Southern California regions will culminate a year of training on balance beams, vaults and parallel bars during the Tri-Valley Special Olympics gymnastics competition Sunday at a Northridge health club.

Held separately from the rest of Tri-Valley events, which took place at Glendale High School in late April, the gymnastics competition will be the last regional event held before the California Special Olympics on June 24 at UCLA.

Of the 36 gymnasts competing in the event from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, Ventura and Kern counties and Long Beach, four will go on to compete in the state games.

“These athletes have lived and breathed gymnastics for a whole year,” said Erica Meadows, area director for the Tri-Valley Special Olympics. “Some of them are extremely competent in their categories.”

Regardless of the athlete’s ability, however, Meadows said the competition is always healthy.

“We rank the athletes according to their abilities so they can compete with others who are at their same level,” Meadows said. “That way, it’s always exciting for them and for the spectators.”

The Tri-Valley Special Olympics gymnastics competition is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Le Club Gymnastics, 19555 Prairie St., Northridge. Admission is free. For more information, call (818) 886-3331.