Jasmin Ward, NGA Regional Champion

Jasmin sets her mind on a 1st place and makes it happen

Contributed By:The 411 News

Jasmin Ward, a 9-year-old Gary resident and a 3rd grader at Discovery Charter School in Chesterton now understands what it means to put your mind to something and you can accomplish it.

Jasmin is a level 2 gymnast at Dream Big Gymnastics in Portage and she recently competed in the National Gymnastics Association (NGA) National Championships held in Orlando, FL from June 8th to 12th. Several organizations conduct gymnastics competitions; the largest of these governing bodies are USAG, AAU, and NGA.

Jasmin competed in 5 NGA events this season. She qualified for the NGA State Championships and placed 13th All-Around.

During the state meet, Jasmin went first for her team during the floor routine and ended up with a very low score compared to her previous scores. Unfortunately, a skill was missing from her normal routine that she competed with all season; however, at the state meet, she needed to add an extra jump to her routine to qualify for a higher score.

Jasmin's teammates were informed and added the extra jump to their routine. The teammates were able to get the higher scores.

Her dad James Ward noticed that Jasmin seemed to be upset but did not show her disappointment.

The NGA Regionals came next for the team, with competitions against gymnasts from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana.

James Ward said, “About two days before the regionals, Jasmin told me she wanted to come in first. As a father, I told her, well go for it, you did all the hard work. Just go execute.”

”As a father, I became nervous during this regional championship meet because she never told me she wanted to come in first before,” Ward said. “I think what happened to her in the state meet lit a fuse. And as a parent, I did not want her to be too disappointed if she did not come in first. I guess I will never know the answer to that.”

Jasmin came in 1st in the Vault, Beam, and Floor. Jasmin came in 6th on the bars and ended up 1st All-Around.

A couple of days before the NGA National Championships, Jasmin told her father she wanted her and her teammates to finish in the top three.

Jasmin finished 2nd in the vault and beam. She finished 4th on the bars and 5th on the floor routines. Jasmin finished 3rd All-Around and her teammate Mandy K. finished 1st All-Around for Level 2N. Her other teammate Ava D. came in 3rd All-Around as well.

Ward said to his daughter, “You can never doubt yourself again in life, and if you do, then just remember this moment – being 9 years old and being 3rd in the nation and when you were 8 years old, you were 1st in the region. You said it. You did it. You inspire me.”


Jasmin on the beam


The Wards: Jade, James, and Jasmin

Story Posted:07/20/2022