Geneva Special Olympian reaches international level in rhythmic gymnastics

Every move of Michelle Thompson's rhythmic gymnastics routines is ingrained in her mind.

The lunges, spins, tosses of plastic clubs and swirls of a long silky ribbon are embedded in her long-term memory from years of practice. Every repetition of the moves has been leading up to the moment when she'll dance on an international level.

The chance she gets to compete this weekend at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles as one of more than 7,000 athletes from 177 nations is the opportunity of a lifetime, say Thompson's parents, Nancy and Rick Thompson of Geneva.

But the fact she remembers the routines at all is a miracle, they say, after she suffered major short-term memory loss because of an illness right before she turned 4.

"Michelle has a severe memory deficit, so it's really amazing that she can remember the routines," her father said.

Thompson's is a success story from a grim prognosis. Doctors predicted she would never walk, talk or eat without help. But after she came out of a coma on her fourth birthday, years of speech, occupational and physical therapy helped her move and function at a much higher level.

By age 8 she was competing in Special Olympics - first with sports such as soccer, tennis, basketball, volleyball and track, and by age 15, in the activity that's become the best fit: rhythmic gymnastics.

The sport's competition is divided into four levels, each involving four routines that combine elements of gymnastics, dance and ballet.

Now 30, Thompson is competing in level three with routines that include dances with a ball, clubs, ribbon and rope.

"She knows her routines really well," said Thompson's coach, Denise Quinn of St. Charles, who coaches for the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association. "She likes music, she likes movement and it's a stimulating activity for her memory issues."

To memorize the routines, Thompson practices every day in her basement. She also works frequently with Quinn at Quinn's daughter's studio, Dance Dynamics in Geneva, and once a week at Palmer's Gymnastics in Bloomingdale, owned by Quinn's brother.

"Practice, practice, practice," Thompson says.

The music that corresponds with each routine is a cue, reminding Thompson when she should clap her clubs together or balance on one tiptoe and flap the ribbon down from above her head.

"Every move has to be repeated a lot for her," Nancy Thompson said. "That's why gymnastics is so good for her, because anything that stimulates her memory also carries into her everyday life."

Thompson says she's learned sportsmanship from her time as a rhythmic gymnast. Her father says she's learned independence and discipline.

Thompson can stay home alone and make simple meals, but she can't live on her own or use the oven, her parents said. She's independent, but in a childlike way, as she functions intellectually and emotionally at the level of a second-grader, her father said.

Even with years of daily practice, Thompson's memory still has its lapses. She won gold medals in the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games last month in the rope, ribbon and clubs categories, but dropped to a silver in the ball category because she forgot some of the movements.

Forgetting doesn't faze Thompson heading into the World Games.

"That happens to everyone," she said.

Aside from competing on the world stage, Thompson is looking forward to visiting her best friend in California and traveling with the team - something her parents wouldn't have thought she could do just a few years ago.

"I like California," Thompson says as she beams and claps her hands in excitement.

She'll be decked out in Team USA gear for the opening ceremony on Saturday, July 25, before beginning the rhythmic gymnastics competition on Sunday, July 26. Her parents, brother and longtime coach will be there, watching as Thompson aims to impress judges and score as close to 10 points as possible in each category.

Thompson and her biggest fans are confident she'll enjoy every moment.

"She has definitely learned to have fun," Quinn said. "She's always got a big smile on her face."