By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - For the first time in history the U.S. Olympic team had more female athletes than male athletes.
One sport that saw many women win medals was gymnastics, and that success has one local gym seeing a boom in business.
Right now, more than 1,500 kids learn gymnastics at Tataru's Gymnastics in Knoxville. Mike Tataru, who owns the gym with his wife, says that number will grow due to the Olympics.
"When Olympics come around, not just our sport, but all sports . . . are boosted," said Tataru. "Kids get encouraged and dream. They want to be like their heroes they saw in the Olympics."
Tataru says after the Olympics is business usually increases 30% to 50%. He says that interest usually carries on for the next two to three years, and by the time people start to lose interest another Olympiad comes around to get people excited again.
Parents we spoke to say their children are asking about sports they have never been interested in before.
"I never thought he would care about gymnastics or swimming," said Knoxville parent Tara McCroskey. "We have been totally on it this year."
McCroskey actually had her son's birthday at Tataru's Gymnastics on Saturday due to the Olympics.
"It makes me more interested in soccer, gymnastics," said 12-year-old Spencer McCroskey. "I think it's really neat to see the things they do. It makes you want to try it."
Tataru says he sees both girls and boys interested in learning gymnastics. He always holds out hope that one of them will be a future gold medalist.
"I know a lot of kids that come to gymnastics, Mr. Mike what do I have to do to make it to the Olympics?" said Tataru. "I'm just like have fun, word hard, and dreams can come true."
At Tataru's Gymnastics, they offer classes for ages starting at 15 months old all the way to adults.
A Knoxville gymnastics center is seeing a huge boost thanks to the Olympics.
