Palisadian gymnast Jake Feldmann, 17, is less than a month away from traveling to Israel to represent Team USA at the 2013 Maccabiah Games. Held every four years, the Maccabiah Games feature the top Jewish athletes from around the world.
In early May, Feldmann, who will be a senior at Palisades High this fall, competed at the Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships in Portland, Oregon. He competed in six events in the 16-year-old division, and finished 44th out of more than 200 participants.
The second day of the championships, Feldmann reached the event finals in two events, rings and vaults, finishing tied for seventh and tied for ninth, respectively.
Three weeks ago, Feldmann suffered a dislocated thumb in what he described as a “freak accident” during practice, but expects to be fully recovered in time for the Maccabiah Games. He is continuing to practice, albeit more dialed down and less labor-intensive. But that hasn’t curbed his enthusiasm for July.
“I’m mostly feeling excitement,” Feldmann said. “There’s a little anxiety that I get there and another injury happens, that’s my only fear. But it’s a big honor to represent the Palisades.”
In the meantime, Feldmann will continue to work hard, even if he has to be careful with his thumb. His practice regimen at Broadway Gym in Playa Vista includes six days a week for four hours from 4:30 to 8:30 with his coach, Wade Peterson, a former alternate gymnast for the Australian Olympic team.
During the school year, that means a full day for Feldmann, with the rest of his time consumed by classes and homework, but he is thankful for more free time in the summer.
“Usually it’s just straight home or to the library, or do homework before I leave for practice, but now that I’m out of school I have much more leisure time, which is really nice,” Feldmann said. “I practice every day except for Sunday.”
When he arrives in Israel, where his family will join him, Feldmann will have a week of training before the Games officially begin, meaning he will have limited time to spend with his parents, Rick and Michele, and brothers, Max, 21, and Wyatt, 13.
With just one year of high school remaining, college is the next step for Feldmann, and he has his sights set on two Bay Area schools.
“My dream college has always been Stanford,” Feldmann said. “I’ve always wanted to go there. I also love UC Berkeley. Both have gymnastics, [although there are] very few scholarships for gymnastics.”
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