Olympic champ opens School of Gymnastics

      After winning six gold medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and four bronze medals in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Vitaly Scherbo said he wanted to open his own gym. All he needed was to find the perfect city.
      Viva Las Vegas.
      In less than two months, the Vitaly Scherbo School of Gymnastics will come to fruition in the Northwest area, at 3350 N. Bronco St., and will be geared toward youths.
      "I'll do everything only for kids," Scherbo said at his Aug. 30 groundbreaking. "Because gymnastics is kids."
      Scherbo, 26, left his hometown of Minsk, Belarus, and moved to State College, Pa., nearly six years ago with his wife Irina in search of an ideal place to teach gymnastics. Anxious to open his own club, Scherbo narrowed his choices to Phoenix and Las Vegas because of each city's rapid growth.
      Of the research he compiled on both cities, Phoenix seemed to be geared toward retired people, while Las Vegas had plenty of families with kids, yet not a lot of clubs.
      "When I first came to Las Vegas, I wanted to open a gym," Scherbo said. "I knew this was the place I had to open a gym. I saw there were not a lot of clubs, so I thought why can't I put my name on something and make the gymnastics community bigger than ever."
      When he arrived in Las Vegas last year with his wife, and their daughter Kristina, Scherbo joined local gymnastics teacher Sheila Leech, owner of Gym Tyme Inc., 276 S. Decatur Blvd.
      In the short period they knew each other, Scherbo said he knew he wanted Leech as an associate and the two formed a partnership.
      "It took about five minutes after I first entered Gym Tyme," Scherbo said. "Every time I went in there, all I noticed was smiles. Not only were they teaching gymnastics, but they were having fun."
      Which will be the philosophy in his gym, a $1 million collaboration with Gym Tyme.
      Scherbo said he won't push any of his students into heavy competition, even though he would like to have boys and girls teams.
      Ones who look to be competitive will be able to move on with Scherbo, while recreational gymnasts just looking to have a good time will be able to continue their education at Gym Tyme.
      "This new generation ... we have to pull it up somehow," he said. "So here in nearby Summerlin, I'm going to open my place so kids can do whatever they want."
      Scherbo's gym will mirror Gym Tyme's gymnastics-centered programs, which currently help children 16 months to 16 years develop physically, socially and intellectually while building self-esteem.
      Scherbo will offer classes in gymnastics, dance, tumbling, cheerleading and piano.
      A target date of Oct. 25 has been set for the grand opening, which Scherbo said may include appearances from Olympic gold medalists Kerri Strug, Shannon Miller, world-renowned gymnastics coach Steve Nunno, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Andre Agassi.
      Youths attending Scherbo's grand opening will receive free T-shirts, autographs and a 15 percent discount on the enrollment fee.