Photo: Spencer Johnson, Emerge Academy
(Grimes, IA) -- Sixteen-year-old Iowa gymnast Gage Kile has perfected a rare skill, a triple back flip on the floor.
His coach, Spencer Johnson of Emerge Academy in Grimes says the skill is extremely rare even among the elite athletes. He says Gage is the only gymnast in his age group who can land the triple back, and there's just one other gymnast in the U-S who can do it, who competes at the college level.
Johnson spotted Gage Kile at another gym 10 years ago and invited him to join a competitive team. "He just has a rare ability and passion," said Johnson. He says eventually Gage asked to try the triple back flip. Johnson says they took an extraordinary amount of precautions to do it safely, and over time he felt confident that Gage could do it in competition.
Johnson says word is spreading in the international gymnastics community and Gage has become a celebrity of sorts.
He'll compete in the U-S Gymnastics Championships, August 24-27 in San Jose, California. The competition will be broadcast on NBC and on NBC's Peacock streaming service. Gage's goal is to eventually represent the U-S at the Olympic games.