Mulino gymnast Kaisha Ohta has once again earned the title of Junior Olympic State Champion on the balance beam.
In December the 11 year old, who competes for Precision Elite Gymnastics in Clackamas, competed in the Level 6 State Championships and in addition to her gold medal on balance bean, she took home silver medals in Vault, Bars, Floor Exercise and the All-Around competition.
Last year Ohta earned the title as the balance beam state champion at Level 5. Both impressive accomplishments given the balance beam is 4.1 feet high, 16 feet long and only 10 centimeters wide.
With the championship meet over Ohta has completed her career at the compulsory level and has moved up to Level 7 Optionals. At that level, which she will begin competition for in February, she will be able to choreograph her own floor routine to her choice of music as well as choreograph her own bars and beam routines.
The past year was a challenge for the young athlete. In February she broke a bone and partially tore a tendon in her foot. The injury kept Ohta out of the gym for five months and forced her to miss the entire spring competition season.
Currently she works out four to five days a week for four hours year round as gymnastics has no off-season.