Achieving The Perfect 10

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Parkettes athlete in the gym.

Achieving The Perfect 10, is a made for CNN documentary movie released on August 10, 2003, about young girls training gymnastics at the well-known Parkettes National Training Center in Allentown (PA).

The documentary follows several Parkettes gymnasts--ranging from the novice competitor Ashley Barry to the elites Nicole Harris, Annie Fogerty and Kristina Coccia--through their daily training routines. It focuses largely on the dynamics between the athletes and their coaches, their parents' sacrifices, expectations and observations, and their experiences dealing with injuries and preparing for competitions.

Several sequences in the documentary have sparked controversy and debate among members of the gymnastics community and others, such as one in which a seven-year old gymnast works out on a broken ankle at the urging of her parents. After it was aired for the first time on CNN, Parkettes coaches and some gymnasts stated that the documentary did not present an accurate picture of the gym.

[edit] Starring

Ashley Barry, Kayla Stark, Nicole Harris, Annie Fogerty, Kristina Coccia, Krista Jasper, Kristen Maloney, Paige Cipolloni, Kristal Uzelac, Kristie Phillips, Donna Strauss and others