Looking for future Olympians

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Olympic Games inspire all of us to get out there and get active. 

I have special memories of watching the gymnastics competition as a young child and then running out to our backyard to see if I could flip or twist in any way like Nadia Comaneci or Mary Lou Retton. 

When my mother would take me to the neighborhood pool, I would try to mirror how the swimmers would glide through the water as they started their races.

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There was always something so sensational about watching an athlete stand there on the podium wearing that gold medal as the national anthem played.  Even as children, we understood why that athlete could not hold back the tears. 

We understood how much time, work and dedication led up to that moment.

As the world gets ready to watch the 2012 Summer Olympic Games from London, KXAN News knows there are children who already have those Olympic dreams and are working towards them right now.  We would love to meet some of Central Texas' Future Olympians. 

If you think you know the next Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte or maybe the next gold medal gymnast, send us a video of the athlete in action along with a brief story of why they have what it takes to be a medal winner.  The children can be Future Olympians in any game in the Summer Olympics.

We will feature some of the athletes in KXAN News.

Send the videos and stories to FutureOlympian@kxan.com .