By Judy Salamacha ~
Don’t tell 10-time All-American gymnast Mimi Phene-McKellar she can’t fulfill her dream – create the largest gymnastics sports center in San Luis Obispo County. Furthermore, don’t expect that surviving breast cancer and its debilitating treatment followed by her mother’s bout with breast cancer could daunt her quest. Above all, do not attempt telling Mimi and Andy McKellar that their beautiful daughter, Maddie, will not survive childhood.
Twenty-five years into her journey, it’s time to “eat cake” with Mimi, Andy and Maddie and the 43 employees at Central Coast Gymnastics Sports Center’s (CCG) during their 25th anniversary public invitational on Saturday, July 2 from noon-2 p.m. at 21 Zaca Lane. Congratulating alumnus will entertain with high-fiving demonstrations as Phene-McKellar directs tours of CCG’s jammed-packed 1,600-sq. ft. in Gym 1 plus check out Gym 2, an additional 1,650-sq. ft. of floor space being readied for new state-of-the-art equipment installation by July’s end.
Seriously, don’t tell Mimi Phene-McKellar she can’t. Her gymnastics training and competition beginning at age five at Clovis Academy has instilled in her how she can push through life’s distractions to achieve her goals. It’s true, 3,250-sq. ft. of top-rated gymnastics training equipment will be available at the same CCG location on Zaca Lane. Mimi and her mother have survived breast cancer treatment while Maddie at 10-years-old is just one of the 700 gymnasts tumbling, tramping, springing, balancing, vaulting, ninja-ing,–each going for their personal Olympic gold at CCG.
Only a condensed version of Phene-McKellar’s journey follows. To get the rest of the story one needs to meet the diminutive Mimi usually found on the floor of CCG, most often lost among budding – even infant — gymnasts seeking her every direction.
In 1991, two weeks after graduation from Cal Poly she opened CCG. For $5 per hour, about $200 per month, she leased the 1,000- sq. ft. space where the SLO Library formally greeted patrons. It was perfect for her 75 students until she was bumped months later to make room for the SLO Little Theater. Moving was not the problem, leaseholders wouldn’t take her money. They didn’t believe her business could succeed. Old-school thinking said San Luis Obispo was a college town and retirement community, not a family town. She knew better. The young families who followed her All-American successes were waiting for her to train their children, a testimony there was a market for her services. She settled on smaller space, but instant growth pushed her to a South Higuera location. By 1992 her student population was 200. When 1,600- sq. ft. of new space was built at 21 Zaca Lane she purchased it, equipped it with the best training equipment, hired experienced gymnasts and created programs for children and adults.
For Phene-McKellar coaching youth gymnastics is more than a career. She knows first hand gymnastic training and competition, especially started as early as eight months, will develop strength, flexibility, coordination, cognitive abilities for successful learning, and skills to better excell in other sports. It teaches listening skills and goal setting, provides social interaction with peers, instills self-esteem and confidence. And it’s fun.
Gymnastics has also provided Phene-McKellar with core strength and a positive attitude to ward off her own cancer and the treatment that should have killed her spirit. And, she will go to the matt believing her understanding of brain/body functions coupled with gymnastic training created miracles in Maddie’s life. At 37 with CCG finally established on Zaca Lane, she and Andy decided to have a child. Maddie was born with cerebral palsy. Area doctors said she might not survive, so her parents sought another opinion. Maddie survived. At age four she was paralyzed, required round-the-clock-care, and had a feeding tube. Further testing determined Maddie’s brain pathways were not affected.
The doctor told Mimi her daughter’s brain could be trained to perform regular functions. At age ten, Maddie blends into CCG’s summer camp gymnasts–walking, talking, eating, and training—just like her peers, and Mimi tears up each time she tells Maddie’s miracle story.
CCG’s programs include artistic gymnastics, tumble and trampoline, cheerleading, Ninja-training, camp and clinics, birthday parties and pre-school drop off programs and more.
“It was a big surprise when we won the Paul Wolff Award in 2015 for our special needs gymnastics and movement program,” said Phene-McKellar. “What draws families county-wide to train with us? Our secret ingredient is applying what we’ve learned – and I mean our top-trained staff — and the relationships we have built over 25 years. We’re here today because of the families who have supported us through the years.”
