Interview by Linda Leiva

Rodney Gendron of Lewiston doesn’t regret giving up a coaching position at Ohio State to become owner of the Andy Valley School of Gymnastics.

“I just enjoy sharing the love of the sport,” said the 39-year-old who started gymnastics when he was 4 years old.

He said his reward is seeing his students develop confidence and a strong work ethic.

How does that happen?

“Time, dedication, getting over the fear factor,” he said. A student’s “talent gets them to a certain level and it becomes scarier, say on the high bar. It takes a work ethic and a competitive nature to push through a degree of difficulty.”

As for the time factor, Gendron said, “It’s very demanding. There are a number of repetitions to develop strength and flexibility and that’s hard on the body. It takes at least 25 hours a week to make a top-level gymnast.”

Top gymnasts have tutors and every day they will work three or four hours straight in the morning, he said. “They get their tutoring in and then do another four hours of training. It’s hard.”

As for self-confidence, he said he sees it, “When a little kid comes in and is unsure and then later his mom comes in and he is saying, ‘Hey, Mom, look at me!’”

Gendron said his goal is to prepare students for athletics, academics and a career in the future.

“I see lots of kids who go on to do track, pole-vaulting, and many other sports. They’ve gained strength, agility and confidence and learned to be goal-setters,” he said.

One of the students with whom he clearly enjoys sharing his passion for gymnastics is his son Luke, 3.

“He comes to the Mom and Me Class. He loves to jump around … and use me as a spring board!” he said.

Gendron was 4 when he began the sport. His parents saw him jumping around the house and and gave him an outlet for his activity.

He attended Ohio State University and competed on the gymnastics team as a scholar athlete and an All-American for four years. The team won the Big Ten NCAA championship twice. He stayed on a fifth year as a student-coach and led his team to another NCAA championship.

When he had the choice of become an assistant coach at Ohio State or take over Andy Valley School of Gymnastics, he chose the latter so he could be close to his family and “share the sport I had grown to love with other young kids of the area.”

He has never regretted the choice, he said.