2008 Woodie Awards
Flying high on beams and in sky
Gymnast Paige Schuster loves gymnastics, flying
Brooks Kirchheimer
Issue date: 5/8/07 Section: Sports
Life sometimes tugs at you and you have to tug back, which is exactly what DU gymnast Paige Schuster has done over the past few years. It's a tug that she will never forget. A tug that took the life of her dad. A tug that gave bigger meaning to the sport that she loves. And a tug that led to her attaining something that she had always done with her dad.
It was a summer day three years ago this July when Schuster's dad, who had a private pilot's license, and two friends headed out in his small twin-engine aircraft for a weekend of biking in Iowa. Shortly after lift-off, the plane crashed, killing all three aboard. Just like that, the Schusters' only child was now without a father and with a new life that she would have to come to adjust to.
Many family members and friends flew in and gathered around the Schuster house to express condolences and offer support. After a while, Schuster needed a place to escape everything and that place was…the gym.
"I told myself I just have to get away from here and the gym was the best place to be, because I got to be with my closest friends and coaches and everything was just normal when I was there."
A "new normal" perhaps, but still one that would help to start finding a way to put a smile back on her face.
If nothing else, the distraction and routine of gymnastics provided a welcome and healthy respite from dwelling on sadness. "Just everyday and going in and doing something that did not involve my dad's accident."
The gym is a place that Schuster has been accustomed to since the age of 3, when her mom first put her in "mom and tot" classes. Gymnastics has become a big part of her life and something she loves for many reasons.
"Just the challenge of it, there is always something new to learn and work on. In other sports I feel you can only go so far, but in gymnastics it is always changing and getting harder."
Paige pursued a promising high school and club career, where she placed third on vault three different times at the Region 3 Championships for GK Gymnastics of Fort Collins. She put a fitting end to her high school career by winning the all-around state title as a senior with a score of 38.625.
It was a summer day three years ago this July when Schuster's dad, who had a private pilot's license, and two friends headed out in his small twin-engine aircraft for a weekend of biking in Iowa. Shortly after lift-off, the plane crashed, killing all three aboard. Just like that, the Schusters' only child was now without a father and with a new life that she would have to come to adjust to.
Many family members and friends flew in and gathered around the Schuster house to express condolences and offer support. After a while, Schuster needed a place to escape everything and that place was…the gym.
"I told myself I just have to get away from here and the gym was the best place to be, because I got to be with my closest friends and coaches and everything was just normal when I was there."
A "new normal" perhaps, but still one that would help to start finding a way to put a smile back on her face.
If nothing else, the distraction and routine of gymnastics provided a welcome and healthy respite from dwelling on sadness. "Just everyday and going in and doing something that did not involve my dad's accident."
The gym is a place that Schuster has been accustomed to since the age of 3, when her mom first put her in "mom and tot" classes. Gymnastics has become a big part of her life and something she loves for many reasons.
"Just the challenge of it, there is always something new to learn and work on. In other sports I feel you can only go so far, but in gymnastics it is always changing and getting harder."
Paige pursued a promising high school and club career, where she placed third on vault three different times at the Region 3 Championships for GK Gymnastics of Fort Collins. She put a fitting end to her high school career by winning the all-around state title as a senior with a score of 38.625.
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