Good Neighbor Podcast: Tri-Cities
Bringing together local businesses and neighbor of the Tri-Cities region. Good Neighbor Podcast hosted by Skip Mauney helps residents discover and connect with your local business owners in and around The Tri-Cities.
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Good Neighbor Podcast: Tri-Cities
EP# 151: Building Dreams and Communities: Robbie Bragdon's Journey with Greeneville Gymnastics Academy
What makes Robbie Bragdon with Greeneville Gymnastics Academy a good neighbor?
Ever wondered how a desire to create opportunities can transform a community? Meet Robbie Bragdon, the passionate owner of Greeneville Gymnastics Academy, who turned his dream into reality by bringing a top-notch gymnastics facility to Greeneville. We sat down with Robbie to explore his inspiring journey from a gymnast who traveled to neighboring towns for training to a community leader dedicated to providing local children with the same opportunities he once had. Listen as Robbie dispels common misconceptions about gymnastics, especially in the South, and highlights the sport’s benefits for both boys and girls, from building strength and flexibility to fostering essential life skills like time management and goal-setting.
But the conversation doesn’t stop at gymnastics. Robbie shares his personal story of reclaiming the academy after a brief hiatus, driven by his unwavering commitment to keep the spirit of gymnastics alive in Greeneville. Outside the gym, he finds joy in riding thoroughbred horses, particularly those that jump fences. Join us as we chat with Robbie about his love for the sport, his dedication to the community, and what it means to cultivate both physical fitness and personal growth in the youth of Greeneville. This episode promises an engaging mix of personal passion, community focus, and insights into the world of gymnastics.
To learn more about Greeneville Gymnastics Academy go to:
https://www.greenevillegymnastics.com/
Greeneville Gymnastics Academy
(423) 329-1989
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Monty.
Speaker 2:Well, hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast of the Tri-Cities. We've got a very special guest with us here today that I'm excited to learn all about them and their business. And I'm sure you'll feel the same, because today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, mr Robbie Bragdon, with Greenville Gymnastics Academy. Robbie, welcome to the show, thank you. Well, like I said, we're thrilled to have you and I'm sure our listeners, especially those with youngins, would be really excited to learn all about your business. So, if you don't mind, why don't you kick us off by telling us about Greenville Gymnastics Academy?
Speaker 3:Greenville Gymnastics we offer gymnastics. We train young gymnasts not only for competitive kids but also for recreational. We also train young girls that maybe are interested in cheerleading, tumbling on the floor, learn how to do backhand springs, forehand springs, etc. We start at the age of age two and go to. We even have adult class for adults that want to try it.
Speaker 2:Is there an age limit on that? No, no, no, no. No age limit, no risk of breaking something. Well, there's always a risk. But Right, right, right. But yeah, y'all got that under control.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Well, Robbie, how did you get into this business?
Speaker 3:I've always done gymnastics. I grew up here in Greenville. I drove to Morristown, knoxville, to do gymnastics because there was not a gymnastic facility here in Greenville. So one day I said one day I want to own a gym in Greenville to give the opportunity to kids here in this town the opportunity I had to do gymnastics. You know, not everybody could afford to drive to Knoxville or Morristown so I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to come here and experience gymnastics.
Speaker 2:Awesome, how long have you been in business?
Speaker 3:I opened up in 2000. Oh wow, Almost 25 years.
Speaker 2:Wow. Do you have a date this year to celebrate?
Speaker 3:celebrate the 25th uh no, I took about three years off in that span. Um, I was going to retire from the sport, sold the gym to another athlete. They kept it for about three years and then they was going to close the doors and I said I can't. Greenville has to have a gymnastics center. That was my, that's my ultimate goal. That's the only reason I wanted to start a gym, and so I bought the facility back and love it.
Speaker 2:Love it, awesome, awesome. Well, what are some? I'm sure there are some myths or misconceptions in the gymnastics industry. Can any of them come to your mind?
Speaker 3:Well, I think here in the South, I think the biggest misconception about gymnastics is that it's for only girls or that it's only for a competitive. You know that you want to go Olympics, but I you know gymnastics it's fun, it develops strength, it develops flexibility, coordination. It teaches listening skill. It develops strength. It develops flexibility, coordination. It teaches listening skill to small children. It teaches you how to have goals to achieve something in life. It teaches you also time management.
Speaker 2:You know you only have this certain amount of time to complete this task. Very good, very good. Well, outside of work, robbie, what do you like to do for fun? Uh, ride horses, oh okay, any particular kind of horses thoroughbreds, anything that jumps fences oh, oh, okay, wow, well, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a.
Speaker 2:It's been a while, but I'm a walking horse kind of guy, so you know, taking it easy with this, the slow, you know, not very bumpy ride. You ride the cadillacs, that's right, that's right, that's exactly right. Not the, not the, uh, the, the shod ones with the giant, you know, uh hoof things that they have a lot.
Speaker 2:I just like plantation class, but anyway, that's that's me. Um, so let's switch gears for a second. Can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you've overcome, either professionally or personally, and how it made you stronger?
Speaker 3:The hardest challenge probably was COVID, when the governor's closed us out, you know, closed the gym for six weeks and then making so many different changes so that we could come back and train six feet apart and wear a mask and that whole thing. We did install camera system in our gym so parents wasn't allowed in the gym but they could sit in their car on their phone and watch their kids in gymnastics through a camera.
Speaker 2:That was a positive change, but there was a lot of changes during that time.
Speaker 3:That was challenging.
Speaker 2:Wow, oh yeah, absolutely For everyone. Don't get me started. I think the government went a little bit too far. Anyway, we don't get political here. So if you could think of one thing you'd like our listeners to remember about the Gymnastics Academy, what would that be, robbie?
Speaker 3:That we care deeply about children and their lives and that gymnastics is a great foundation. Not only gymnastics is a great foundation for all sports and, I think, life in itself.
Speaker 2:Very good, all right. Well, if any of our listeners were interested in checking you out and wanting to learn more about your business, how can they do that? You?
Speaker 3:can go to GreenvilleGymnasticscom and we have a website that you can look at videos we have, look at some of our athletes we have. You can also contact us through that. We'll get back to you as soon as possible. You can drop by the gym here on industrial road and we'll give you a tour of the place. We're here Monday through Friday from two o'clock to eight o'clock.
Speaker 2:Very good, you said from eight to two, from two to eight.
Speaker 3:Two to eight, 2 PM.
Speaker 2:Sorry, it's okay, that was dyslexic of me. Very good, very good. Well, robbie, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule, especially with you. I've got a big trip coming up tomorrow to be on our show and I really wish you and your family and your business, greenville Gymnastics Academy, all the best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Thank you. I appreciate it. I appreciate this time.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, maybe we can have you back when you've got a big event coming on or competition or something.
Speaker 3:Okay, that'd be great.
Speaker 2:All right, sounds good. Thanks so much.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnptry-citiescom. That's gnptry-citiescom, or call 423-719-5873.