Petra Lou Retton

At 8 am on Friday morning, Petra presented to a gym in Nevada for her first gymnastics meet.

Coach Quin, from the optionals team, came by to pump the girls up. Petra nervously put her hand in the center of the cheer, her cute little curls bobbing about as she quakety-quaked.

Here she is pictured lined up with her teammates and some of the other girls from her rotation.

She accepts last moment advice from her ever-supportive Coach Wendy.

One quick glance at Daddy before her floor debut.

Nervous Mommy.

With floor and vault successfully behind her, Petra's coaches prep her for bars.

Here, she achieved her top score of the meet.

The most difficult event came last.

Mid-scale.

Receiving her 3rd place medal for her bars performance. Her first meet!

On beam she achieved 5th place and on floor 6th place, both placements earned her a spot on the podium and shiny medals. In the all-around, she was in 6th place, placing higher than any of her teammates that day.

Triumphant, her hardwork helped her team clinch the 5th place position out of 70+ teams competing.

That is the story of our weekend, which is now over, though I suspect Petra's turn as a competetive gymnast are only just starting.