Dedicated competitor

Leila Chadraoui (pictured), 10, practices a floor routine at Houston Gymnastics Academy. The West University Elementary fourth grader is on the women’s team and works out for 16 hours each week to prepare for Level 4 competition. During the compulsory season, Leila competes at weekend meets all around Houston, and also in San Antonio and Dallas. Leila started gymnastics classes when she was 4 years old, and her favorite part is tumbling. At Level 4, she has mastered two back handsprings with many dance elements for the floor routine, a cartwheel on the beam, a handspring on the vault and a kip on the bars.

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