USA Gymnastics 2012: Olympian Kyla Ross a Breed Apart from U.S. Teammates

USA gymnast Kyla Ross is the youngest American athlete this summer for the 2012 Olympic Games, but that's not the only reason she's different from her U.S. teammates.

The 15-year-old phenom is supremely talented, but it's her competitive fire and cold-blooded precision that sets her apart.

According to the AP, Ross was the only girl out of the five-person team the U.S. will send to London this summer who didn't weep when she found out she made the team. Her parents weren't surprised, though, and her dad, Jason Ross, said:

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"She’s just so competitive. It doesn’t matter if it’s gymnastics or if it’s school. She would come home from school and say, ‘This girl got a better grade than me’ and Kyla got a 98. She just always wants to win."

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Perhaps it's this drive for perfection that has shaped Ross' flawless routines. From the AP report:

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Though she lacks Wieber’s power and Douglas’ sass, the elegant Ross performs with a fluidity that makes it appear she floats between the bars and glides over the four-inch wide beam...Yet Douglas’ routines seem to be packed with drama. A hand-slip there, a daring flip over the bars there. There are no such theatrics for Ross. She’s smooth—every hand placement perfect, her body a study in kinetic energy and efficient movement.

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Ross is akin to a machine when she's performing. She has an uncanny ability to block out fear, emotion and worry, which allows her to simply execute the routines she's been practicing for her entire life. 

So, while her teammates may become overwhelmed by the moment when they step into the spotlight in London this summer, don't expect Ross to succumb to such emotional distractions. Although she's the youngest member of America's 530-member team, Ross has the emotional maturity of a woman twice her age. 

Her focus, determination and will to win is bound to rub off on her teammates. I have no doubt that Ross will have a positive impact, and it won't surprise me to see her take on a leadership role when the going gets tough.

Ross is a special athlete, and she'll be one of America's shining stars this summer in London. She will likely become a media darling, due to her youth, but don't expect to see the same kind of emotional outbursts from her that we've seen from many of the top Olympic gymnasts in the past. 

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