Azarian U.S. Gymnastics Training Center in Aliso Viejo aims to develop grace, strength, flexibility, discipline, coordination, determination, positive self-esteem, a healthy body, time management and respect for others in all the enrollees who pass through the doors—from preschoolers to Junior Olympians. It's run by Eduard Azarian, a second-generation men's gymnastics world champion and Olympic gold-medal winner from Russia. He is also head coach of the center's boys' team (ages 12 to 17) that tears it up in gymnastics competitions, earning the team many championships—and Azarian many coach-of-the-year honors, including the 2010 nod. He and his staff turn snot-nosed kids into superstars by applying training techniques that are as secretive as the spying techniques Boris Badenov used to confound moose and squirrel. Actually, Azarian stresses that his charges have fun, be creative and apply the fundamentals of his sport in a non-competitive atmosphere before thinking about winning, losing or even competing at all. You gotta love what you're doing before you can do it well. (So that's how the Ruskies beat us all those years.)
One Reply to “Best Coach”