Simone Biles' coach relocating to Sarasota
SARASOTA (FOX 13) - For 11-years, gymnastics coach Aimee Boorman and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles have been a team.
She stood by her side in Rio, as the team USA head coach. She watched as Biles brought home four gold medals and became a household favorite.
"I knew she was going to be an amazing athlete and I knew she had a great spirit. I knew from a very early age she drew the attention of people," said Boorman. "She would get out even when she did ugly gymnastics and everything in the competition would stop to watch her even when she was 9 or 10 years old. She has a spark about her."
But now, Coach Boorman is stepping back from the excitement of the Olympics and resettling in Florida. As the Olympics approached, she knew her partnership with Biles and Team USA would soon end, after her husband took a job opportunity in Sarasota.
"Overall, I am going to miss seeing her dearly. We have been together almost every day of her life," she said.
Boorman isn't giving up the sport she loves when she comes to the Bay Area. She hopes to help other young athletes find that spark at Evo Athletics in Sarasota. She will oversee the Evo Athletics women's gymnastic program.
"I come in the gym and if a kid needs help, needs coaching, I am there. If there is a ton of them that come in, hopefully I can train coaches to have the same philosophy and technique," Boorman said, anticipating an uptick in business at Evo with her arrival.
Training with Boorman is tough, but she also believes in letting kids be kids.
"I don't think they need to live in the gym. Gymnastics is just part of their life. That's not who they are," she said.
Boorman hopes her talents and success will one day help other young athletes achieve greatness.
"That is the most important thing, to be passionate... They are going to be dedicating so much time, they are going to be missing out on things and they are going to have to love what they are doing," she said.