Senior Emma Lyday’s passion for gymnastics started at two years old. Lyday has achieved many awards that she is proud of, but her most proud moment came when she stepped foot in Eastside Gymnastics Academy after two years of being hurt. Lyday tore everything in her knee aside from her PCL. “It was a big obstacle in my gymnastics career and it was hard to rest for two whole years,” Lyday said.

Lyday’s friends and her teammates comforted her when she was down. “My teammates really helped me and motivated me to have a good attitude,” she said.

Her love for gymnastics is also the reason why she was so excited to come back. she knew that she would be a little rusty but believed in herself, and so did all of her teammates.

This past weekend, Lyday won the Gold in the Vault at the Great West Gymnastics Fest in Coure d’Alene, Idaho. She scored a 9.525 to take first, which is the highest of all competitors in every level. She also took 4th place overall in the Floor event. Lyday is qualified to compete at state level. Every day of the week she trains and improves. She goes after school every day 2:30-6:30, then two days of the week 1:30-6:30. She trains for all four events: floor, uneven bars, balance beam, and vault.

Lyday said that Symone Biles is her inspiration. “She is living my dream, and she is so young. I hope to be able to live her life one day,” Lyday said.

Lyday’s goal is to be accepted into NCAA and to compete in the PAC-12 in college. “Gymanstics is not a popular sport” Lyday says, but that is one of the many reasons why she loves the sport so much. “It is such a unique sport and not many people can do it, so I am proud that I am able to succeed in this sport,” she said. Lyday is headed to San Jose, CA this weekend to compete at “Spirit of the Flame” Gymnastics Competition.