Newton's Julia Wang
had made it through the hard part, competing in
the 2006 National Rhythmic Gymnastics
Championships in Virginia last month.
The 10-year-old Wang won the level 4/5
championship.
The only time her knees shook was when she
accepted her medal.
``I felt like I was going to fall off the
podium," Wang said. ``I was really excited."
Wang competed in the Child C division (ages
10-11), winning the all-around title with 21.7
points and capturing first place in the rope
event. The success didn't surprise her coach,
Varduhi Nahapetyan .
``She's very strong, very smart, and very
easy to work with," said Nahapetyan, a former
national champion from Armenia. ``If you give
her a program, she'll have no problem doing it.
She's a very special girl."
Wang first tried rhythmic gymnastics when she
was 7 but stopped briefly after her coach left
the country. She has been coached by Nahapetyan
for the last year and a half, practicing at the
New England Sports Academy in Westwood.
Competitors in rhythmic gymnastics perform
exercises using balls, clubs, hoops, ribbons,
and ropes.
Wang, the daughter of Frank Wang and Lujia
Tang , said her favorite is the rope event.
