Fantastic Gymnastics

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 9:33 AM)

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Former gymnast Diane Altimus has been passing on her skills and knowledge to the children of more than 2,000 Mountain Area families as the owner of Gymnastics by Diane for 20 years.

Gymnastics by Diane provides recreational classes for toddlers through adults, teaching basic to advanced skills.

"Gymnastics provides children physical strength, agility, balance, flexibility and confidence," Altimus said. "I believe the skills learned in gymnastics help build a strong foundation that will help children in all sports, as well as everyday life. But most of all, it's fun."

Altimus says children are always telling her why they love gymnastics and the comments range from "I like to fly," to "doing flips on the trampoline is cool," to "I love gymnastics because I can do things that other people can't."

Many of her students have gone on to participate in competitive club gymnastics.

Former students, including Aubrie Hagopian, Sarah Yaugher, Kelly Graham Blair, Melanie Johnson and Dana Wilhite, have gone on to teach gymnastics at other schools and gyms after leaving Oakhurst.

"The best of the best young men and women have trained with me since they were children and have continued to coach with me through high school and college," Altimus said, pointing to Jill Nolen, now a student at California State University, Fresno, who has participated and coached in the program for 16 years.

Her current assistants are Nolen, Emiley Yaugher, Olivia Pombo, Jamie Dobson, Cindy Sweeney, Deborah Hough and Karee Smith.

After teaching gymnastics to thousands of Mountain Area children, Altimus has a special place in her heart for children with special needs from Yosemite High School with whom she works.

"They have been a source a great joy and growth for me," Altimus said. "Best of all, the students have a blast and have benefited tremendously from the unique opportunity to do flips and tumbling in a safe place."

Lori Blate, Yosemite High special education teacher, explained that Altimus volunteers her time and gym to provide an avenue of physical education that is not available to her students.

Blate said the only exercise her students get at the high school is walking the track.

"Gymnastics gives our students other ways to exercise like using the trampoline," Blate said. "For our students in a wheelchair, it gives them a great opportunity to get out of their chairs and stretch and exercise. They love it."

Blate was with her students, Michael and Isaac Knowls, Gabe Ponce-Carson, Robbie Drosche, Christopher Smith, Sean Thomas Wood, Christian Drosche and Denby Whalley, last week at the gym assisting with their exercise program.

Altimus will celebrate her 20 years as a gymnastic's instructor with her 20th Annual Spring Program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 at the Yosemite High School gymnasium. The Yosemite High special education program will sponsor the show and a couple of the students will participate in the program.

Over the years, the Yosemite High special ed students have participated in the Northern California Gymnastics Special Olympics at Break the Barriers in Fresno, where all the students come away with medals and ribbons for their achievements.

Linda Drosche of Oakhurst was the winner of the Women's Gymnastics All Around National Championship in 2006. She trained with Altimus prior to her trip to Ames, Iowa, with coach Hagopian to win the title.

Altimus said that many young adults that were her students as children, often stop by the gym to see her and thank her for all the fun they had and the great memories they have from gymnastics.

"It's rewarding watching so many children grow from toddlers to adults and having them thank me for their opportunity to participate in gymnastics and what a positive influence it has had on their lives."