Kailey Willhelm was born eight weeks premature and weighed just 3 lbs., 5 oz. During the first few years of her life, she developed well mentally, but had some physical problems. She still was not running at age 4, so her pediatrician recommended that her parents put her in a gymnastics class to improve her gross motor skills.
At her gym in Connersville, Ind., Kailey ran after just a few months then performed her first back handspring in less than one year. Now 17 years old and in her 11th year at Gymnastics Unlimited in Indianapolis, Ind., Kailey is a Level 9 gymnast and a Level 3 coach. Gymnastics helped Kailey go from preemie to powerhouse!