

Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 12, trains at her home during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in New Windsor, in New York, U.S., May 22, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favourite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," said Ty-La, who does abdominal workouts and push-ups to stay fit at home, on top of the instructional videos posted online by the Wendy Hilliard Foundation. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 12, prepares to train via a Zoom call at her home during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in New Windsor, New York, U.S., May 22, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Coach Fabu Cox trains gymnasts at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Coach Fabu Cox trains gymnast Rylee Bailey at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 13, wears a protective face mask as she trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in New York, U.S., December 7, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 12, trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Rylee Bailey embraces a teammate at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Wendy Hilliard, a Hall of Fame rhythmic gymnast and founder of the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation and Zariah Hayes watch gymnasts at the gymnastics foundation in New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. "Trying to keep these kids together has been what I've been working the hardest to do," said Hilliard, who rolled out "Zoom" classes as the pandemic sent families indoors and later found spaces across the New York City metro area for her students, including a tennis court in the Bronx and a gym in Yonkers. Throughout the year, she's fought to find those facilities for her students to keep them competitive and in shape, as more affluent private gyms that serve predominantly white communities have the resources to stay open. "I'm so frustrated that the priority - you know, if you have money, stuff like that, you can have your kids do these extra activities and other kids can't if they're urban kids or they don't have the spaces," said Hilliard. "We've been trying to navigate that part." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts Londyn Morris, Comora Johnson, Canairi Storman and Miranda Ortiz take part in The Harlem Gymnastics Invitational competition at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Avion Pugh trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Avion Pugh celebrates with Chelsea Taylor Moore after Pugh won first place in The Harlem Gymnastics Invitational competition at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Judges register gymnasts Avion Pugh and Chelsea Taylor Moore who are preparing to compete in The Harlem Gymnastics Invitational competition at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 12, trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and New York, in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 12, trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts Hailey Montero, Rylee Bailey and Miranda Ortiz train at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 12, trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., January 24, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts Comora Johnson, Rielle Taitt-Lance and Londyn Morris embrace during The Harlem Gymnastics Invitational competition at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Rylee Bailey trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Chelsea Taylor Moore trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 20, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 13, and her mother Likisha McCormick prepare to deliver gifts, at their home in New Windsor, New York, U.S., December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts train at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 9, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Ty-La Morris, 13, wears a protective face mask as she trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in New York, U.S., December 7, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnast Comora Johnson trains at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Wendy Hilliard, a Hall of Fame rhythmic gymnast and founder of the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, consoles gymnast Chelsea Taylor Moore during The Harlem Gymnastics Invitational competition at the foundation in New York, U.S., February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Wendy Hilliard, a Hall of Fame rhythmic gymnast and founder of the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, and her son Kennedy "KC" Mensah make their way to the foundation in New York, U.S., December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts train at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 20, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts Carter Beckles, ZaQuae Carter, Kaya Beckles, Ty-La Morris and Phoenix Britt train at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., January 13, 2020. Ty-La, who said she's drawn comparisons to 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles, said a full - a tumbling move where a gymnast flips backwards and twists - was her favorite move that she's learned through her classes at Wendy Hilliard Foundation. She's also formed rock-solid bonds there with other students. "We are very close. We (are) like brothers and sisters," she said. "I just always wanted to do gymnastics because I just love to flip," said Ty-La, "And now I'm doing it." REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts Sanai Bastian and Kaya Beckles get ready to train at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., December 9, 2019. REUTERS/Idris Solomon


Gymnasts Tatiana Brown, Alaijah Ragin and Chelsea Taylor Moore train at the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which offers free and discounted classes for children in Detroit and in New York, in New York, U.S., January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Idris Solomon
In Simone Biles' path, a fearless young gymnast learns new 2020 routine