SHARING HER PASSION
Lifelong gymnast reopens popular academy in Watervliet
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » Nearly 13 years ago, East Greenbush native Megan Kennedy was hit by a truck and sustained serious injuries, but that didn’t stop her from continuing to follow her passion of gymnastics.
Now, she is looking to share that passion with others with the opening of her own gymnastic academy.
“After the accident, I had a broken femur and a partially collapsed lung. People thought I wouldn’t be able to do gymnastics ever again,” said Kennedy, 25, who used some of her injury settlement money to reopen the DC Stars Gymnastics Academy at 1801 Avenue B last week. “It was probably because I did gymnastics that I didn’t get killed because I was so strong to begin with, even at age 12.”
Treating the broken femur required metal rods placed into her leg, two surgeries and an entire year of rehabilitation before Kennedy could walk properly again, and before she could get back to her passion.
Kennedy and her gym director, Fernando “Fern” Pizarro, hosted an open house and ribbon- cutting ceremony Saturday for the 5,000 square foot facility, which features training apparatus for the vault, uneven bars, balance beams, trampoline and f loor exercise, as well as a tumble track. The gym, which
has its own parking lot, is located in the rear of a warehouse building shared with Comfortex Inc.
Kennedy said the total cost to get the gym up and running again was more than $75,000. To pay for construction and setup costs, Kennedy used funds from her accident settlement, which her parents had placed into a trust for her until she turned 21.
“My accident was a blessing in disguise,” Kennedy said. “Because of the insurance money I received from my accident, I was able to buy and reopen this business, turning a devastating event into something completely positive.”
Kennedy said it has always been a dream of hers to operate her own gymnastics facility, but she wasn’t sure how or when that dream would be realized.
DC Stars Gymnastics Academy was established by the late Doug Connor in 1981, originally in the Affrims building in Colonie. As the business grew, Connor relocated the gym to Central Avenue, near Westgate Plaza, where it continued until closing in June 2016.
Kennedy started taking classes at DC Stars at age 4 and was part of its competitive Junior Olympics program at age 6. She became an instructor during her senior year of high school, the same year she joined the competitive CNY Storm All-Star Cheer Team, and later was head coach until DC Stars closed down.
After Connor’s death, his son continued the business for several years until it changed hands, and Kennedy purchased the business from its previous owners in July 2016. She has been running classes out of a different gym while getting her new space ready.
“It was a dream for me to have my own gym one day,” she said. “How I was going to do it was unplanned, I just knew I was never going to pull myself away from DC, because it was always my family and my second home. I have lifelong memories and relationships from here, so I wanted to carry that on.”
DC Stars offers gymnastics classes for children ages 18 months to 18 years, as well as tumbling for cheerleaders and dancers. Kennedy said she is working to develop an obstacle course program, inspired by the popular American Ninja Warrior reality TV show, where kids ages 8-14 can test their limits and agility. The space will also be available for birthday parties and corporate events.
For more information or to register for classes, visit www.dcsgacademy.com or www.facebook.com/dcsga.