At the tender age of 2, Anna Sumner found herself practicing cartwheels while she waited on her older sister, Jordyn, to finish her daily routines at a local gymnastics facility. In Anna’s eye, the cartwheels were simply a way to pass the time; everyone around her was fully engaged in the activity, so it appeared a fun thing to do.
She looked up to Beth Roberts, an outstanding gymnast in her own right who currently competes at the University of Georgia. In the midst of her personal rehearsal, she caught the eye of Elena Pankratova, an instructor who immediately reveled at the pure talent that young Anna possessed.
“She approached me and asked how old Anna was,” Deana Sumner, Anna’s mother, said. “I let her know, and (Elena) had a momentary look of shock. She told me to make sure that I bring Anna back to begin classes as soon as she turned 3 years old because there was something about her that stood out.”
The world saw natural ability. Young Anna saw a fun way to keep herself entertained. Fast forward to 2016, and the longstanding pastime has turned into something of a “claim to fame” for the Tiftarea sensation.
“I love everything about gymnastics,” Anna said. “It’s a year-round sport, so there is always something to do or to practice. I always said that if I were to have a superpower, I would want to be able to fly. Gymnastics allow me to get as close to that as possible. When I’m out there competing, I feel like I’m flying.”
Flying has proven to be the ideal metaphor to relate to Anna’s career as a gymnast. Currently a sophomore, she achieved a Level 10 distinction in eighth grade and has numerous accolades behind her name. As a Level Seven gymnast, she placed second at both Regional and State-level competitions, and she repeated the feat at her State competition for Level Eight. After moving to Level Nine, she took it a step further; not only did she make it to Regionals, she also went on to compete at Eastern Nationals in Tampa, Florida.
“I definitely want to compete in college,” Anna said, also stating that the floor and bars are her favorite events. “I have some schools in mind, and there are a couple currently looking at me, but there’s still a great deal of time to make that decision.”
Gymnastics, both on the surface and deep within, serve as an impeccable metaphor for life itself. To the eyes of spectators, Anna is exceptional at whatever she does in competition. But what the world doesn’t see is that all of her talents and abilities are the result of countless hours of hard work and dedication to her craft. She practices between 20 and 25 hours a week. Outside of gymnastics, she tackles a rigorous school schedule while also being a part of various clubs, including BETA Club and The National Honors Society of High School Scholars.
“Some nights, Anna comes home and doesn’t go to bed until midnight because she’s so busy with homework,” Deana said. “She’s taking seven classes this year, and they are all core material. She’s enrolled in courses like Honors biology, no filler classes like P.E. or things of that nature. She’s extremely dedicated to her education.”
Her dedication shines brightly; her tireless work ethic has her currently sitting on a 4.0 GPA and ranked fifth in a sophomore class of approximately 62 students. She has never earned a grade lower than a 95 since attending Tiftarea Academy, which has been her academic home since she began school. Her plans are to turn her vast intelligence and determination into a career in the medical field. Although she has not decided which path will be taken, she currently finds that her favorite science is biology.
Tiftarea Academy is a second home to Anna. She truly appreciates the small school because of the family atmosphere; everyone knows one another, and the amount of support is incomparable. Through Tift Gymnastics Academy, where Anna trains and practices, the environment is nearly identical. All of the coaches, including Ben Ledl (who has been Anna’s coach since 2011), give the gymnasts their undivided attention and expertise. Most importantly, the staff, as well as the gymnasts, take time to pray after every practice in the facility.
“I sincerely appreciate all of my coaches that have gotten me to this level,” Anna said. “And I also want to thank my parents (Tim and Deana Sumner). They have been so supportive of everything that I do, and I will always be grateful.”
Anna’s humble spirit and pleasant attitude are a breath of fresh air every time she sets foot in the facility. She is a role model for the younger gymnasts, who all have become quite enamored with not only her skills, but her gracious and giving nature as well.
“Parents approach me to talk about Anna,” Deana said. “They say that she is so sweet to them and their children. Occasionally, I even have little girls, younger gymnasts, come up to me to tell me that they want to be just like Anna when they grow up.”
Anna Sumner has touched countless lives through her gift of gymnastic prowess. Combined with her outstanding academic success, it is a safe bet that having children admire her and aspire to follow in her footsteps is quite a virtuous way to go.
ITG Web Content
Tiftarea Gymnast Balances Life’s Beams to Perfection
Written by James A. Washington
Photo by Marque Milla Reese
