By Rebecca Hext
Staff Writer
Doke’s coach of five years, Chris Thompson, describes her as a hard-working and committed young athlete, which explains her amazing dedication to gymnastics.
“She is willing to try more skills and throw harder tricks during practice and competitions,” Thompson said.
She spends nine to 12 hours a week at her gym, Studio West Gymnastics in Torrance, practicing each of her four events, doing cardiovascular work, and performing various muscle strengthening exercises.
Doke excels in the vault event and holds the title of California State Champion in the Vaulting Division of her age group. Since she won the title in 2009, she has placed first in vault in every subsequent competition. She has now started to train in other events to expand her skill level.
“Currently my best event is definitely floor,” Doke said. “I like it because tumbling is one of my favorite skills to show off, and I feel like I can express myself more on the floor.”
However, this sport does come with a price. Perilous stunts make it an extremely dangerous sport. As a freshman, she suffered a stress fracture in her spine due to the constant impact gymnastics produced on her body.
“I wasn’t allowed to practice for about four months, and it was a very frustrating time for me not being able to do what I love,” Doke said.
As well as the constant threat of injuries, she must balance her gymnastics commitment, social life and academics.
Doke takes AP and honors classes, plays the flute in band and participates in varsity track and field as a pole-vaulter.
“She has become better with her time management skills,” Yvette Doke, Raquel’s mother, said. “Even though Raquel is the gymnast, our family also has to give up going on numerous vacations to attend her meets.”
In addition to teaching her time management skills, gymnastics has also caused her to become a more outgoing person.
“I got tons of support from my teammates,” Doke said. “They were always really encouraging and they helped me break out of my shell.”
Thompson remembers her as the shyest girl in his class five years ago. However, over the past two years, gymnastics has helped Doke gather more self-confidence in and out of the gym.
“In the last two years she has become much more confident with herself,” Thompson said.
This year, Doke is focusing more on personal goals. Her next official season does not begin until early January of 2012 so she is excited to have all summer to prepare for competition.
“I’m trying to improve on my skills and tricks more this year rather than on winning titles,” Doke said. “There are some specific moves that I have been battling with for sometime, so I’m really excited to perfect those and show them off in competition.”
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