Des Moines Olympian joins Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions

Tickets to the Oct. 12, 7 p.m., Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions are available, ranging from $27 to $202. Discounts are available for some gymnastics clubs. Tickets can be purchased at several Dahl’s outlets or online at www.kelloggstour.com. Photo courtesy of John Cheng

Every four years, gymnastics finds its way into the living rooms of homes around the country as the U.S. takes on the world at the Olympic Summer Games.                

In Des Moines, thanks to Shawn Johnson and now Gabby Douglas, gymnastics remains high on the collective radar. On Friday, Oct. 12, Douglas and other Olympic-notable gymnasts will make a stop in Des Moines as part of the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions at Wells Fargo Arena.                

Des Moines is the 19th stop in the 40-city tour, as the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions is a traveling show featuring some of the best gymnasts in recent U.S. history. Due to athletes’ schedules and personal commitments, the cast will vary from stop to stop, but it’s possible that Douglas could be joined by her London teammates Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, McKayla Maroney and Jordyn Wieber, as well as past all-star gymnasts Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone and Sabrina Vega.                

In addition to the women, some of the best in men’s gymnastics will also grace the stage at the Well, Chris Brooks, Jake Dalton and Jonathan Horton to name a few.                

With daily stops in Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Des Moines, Omaha and Kansas City, life on the road can be chaotic and draining for the athletes, but it’s still a lot of fun, according to Douglas. In an interview with “USA Gymnastics,” Douglas spoke of her life on tour:                

“The tour is so much fun, and it’s great hanging out with all the girls and cast members on the tour,” she said. “I get to see a lot of new cities, and I’m trying to enjoy each one. We don’t get to stay in the city very long, so it’s hard to enjoy everything the city has to offer, but the fans are great everywhere we go.”                

Like her Olympian colleague Johnson, Douglas is a gold medalist who trains at Chow’s Gym in West Des Moines, although that training is sparse while she tours all 40 cities on the docket. Life on the bus could be grueling or an adventure, depending on your perspective. Douglas seems to have the right frame of mind, even as she’s only half-way through the tour.                

“Traveling on the bus is good. I sleep, eat, watch movies,” she said. “I have a bed on the bus, and we have a TV and a kitchen.”                

Energy is something Douglas seems to have plenty of, too, and she enjoys the excitement and energy during the two-hour show.               

“My favorite number is ‘Party Rock,’ because it is full of energy and gets the crowd hyped up,” Douglas said. “Everyone I’ve met has been great, and we all appreciate the support we are getting from fans in each city.”               

In Des Moines, the fans are proud to have played a part in the life of gymnastics’ newest sweetheart.                

In addition to her participation in the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions, Douglas has been busy in her post-Olympic life as a guest on the “Jay Leno Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman” and a meeting with President Barack Obama. On Saturday, Oct. 13, Douglas will be featured on MTV’s “This Is How I Made It” at 11 a.m. CV