Imagine qualifying for the USA Gymnastics National Team (USANT) and mulling over options for training.
You choose a venue named World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas, and find yourself on the precipice of working out with Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and the like.
And, yes, it’s that Simone Biles.
You introduce yourself and receive a warm welcome from world-class athletes.
Then you inform them you’re from Staten Island, New York.
That’s certainly not a bad thing, but, nonetheless, something that raised eyebrows.
Olivia Greaves encountered it all over the last 18 months or so. Greaves, who was ‘’born into gymnastics,’' and initially trained as a youngster at Athletic Edge — her mom’s Tottenville facility — is well aware that those who are lucky enough to make the USA Gymnastics National Team rarely come from the state of New York, let alone Staten Island.
“They were like, ‘what? From where?’' laughed the 17-year-old Greaves, who has been an elite gymnast since she was 14 and is believed to be the first female from the Island to qualify for USANT (Dominick Minicucci, of course, competed for the U.S. men’s team in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games). In fact, you must re-qualify each year and Greaves has done so four years running. “I’m very happy. I think it’s really cool to represent New York.’'
You can only imagine how her parents, Danny and Mary Jo, feel about her rise in the gymnastics world.
“We’re extremely proud of her,’' said Danny Greaves, noting his daughter landed at World Champions Centre after a stint training at MG Elite Gymnastics in Morganville, N.J. “I admire how humble she’s remained (despite her success). She just keeps her head down and works hard.
“Really, it’s an unbelievable story.’'
Trials and tribulations
Her story, unfortunately, has included a number of trials and tribulations in recent years. The good news is, as a Junior-level gymnast in 2019, she did exceptionally well at the U.S. National Championships. In fact, she placed first on the uneven bars — an event she considers her best — and third in the all-around.
But she left MG Elite after Maggie Haney, a former Olympic and national team coach who first discovered Greaves when she was still training at Athletic Edge, was suspended for eight years after she was found guilty of verbally and emotionally abusing athletes.
“Fortunately, my daughter was not one of the gymnastics being abused,’' said Danny Greaves. “That was obviously a relief.’'
She relocated to World Champions Centre because she felt comfortable training under Cecile and Laurent Landi. Her parents got an apartment in Spring and they alternate staying with her two weeks at a time while she trains. But leaving Staten Island wasn’t an easy thing to do because, among other things, she’s away from her siblings, including Antonio (23), Richie (20) and Sophia (16).
“It’s different and something I had to get used to‚’’ she admitted, noting her weekly schedule includes four days of double-training sessions (7-10:30 a.m., then 2-5 p.m.), two days of one-session training (7-11 a.m.) and one day off — all while home-schooling. “But (Spring) is a nice place like Staten Island and my parents do a great job getting me home often.’'
“It’s hard on our whole family in general‚’’ added Danny Greaves, who said a lot of sacrifices have to be made financially as well. “My kids love and miss each other, but we just find a way to figure everything out and get it done.’'
But despite being in a good place with supportive teammates and coaches in Texas, the injury bug bit Olivia Greaves hard beginning in April of 2020 which, of course, was shortly after the coronavirus pandemic hit. For starters, the Tottenville resident was diagnosed with a torn meniscus after she resumed training at Athletic Edge and although surgery appeared to be successful, it never healed properly and she was forced to undergo a second surgery.
Then, a month after the second operation and while in the midst of completely resuming training, she was diagnosed with bone fracture in her elbow. To boot, she eventually discovered her elbow injury was misdiagnosed and it was actually only a bruise.
“After the two surgeries (on my meniscus), I completely shut down mentally,’' she said. “But after everything that happened, about a month (after the elbow injury), I figured it all out and started training again.’'
Healthier, happier times
The 5-foot-5 Greaves is back training and competing full time and, thankfully, she’s currently injury free.
“I feel really good. I’m doing well,’' she said. “I feel confident and I’m hoping to continue to improve and compete at a high level.’'
The Tottenville resident was re recently a non-participating alternate for the USANT at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Japan. And, on Nov. 3, she’s heading to Switzerland for the Swiss Cup Zürich. That event commences on Nov. 7.
The Paris Olympic Games, which take place in the summer of 2024, are just under three years away. You couldn’t help Greaves for looking ahead, it’s human nature, but she has a realistic approach when it comes to her future.
“I’m just trying to live in the moment,’' she said. “I’m just worried about what I’m doing now. Wherever I go (in the future), I’ll go.’'
“(Competing in the Olympics) will depend on the work she puts in, but she’ll certainly be in the conversation,’' added Danny Greaves, who said his wife will be opening second Athletic Edge on South Ave. in January. “She’s on the National team, which is pretty amazing.’'
That future, by the way, will include a four-year stint at Auburn University, where she plans to compete for the Tigers’ gymnastics team. She is verbally committed to AU and is planning to make her choice official on Nov. 10, the first day she can sign.
“The whole family will be in Texas when she signs her National Letter of Intent,’' her father said. “It’s something everybody is looking forward to. She earned it and we’re looking forward to sharing that moment with her.’'
Ad Choices