By Elizabeth Wang

Olympic gold-medal gymnast Jordyn Wieber stopped over in Ballard’s Fred Meyer on Sunday, Sept. 23, for a quick meet and greet with local fans before performing with the rest of her crew at the Key Arena later that evening.

Over a hundred giddy, young boys and girls, most of whom were aspiring professional gymnasts, and their supportive parents lined up for a photo-op and an autograph from the member of the “Fierce Five.”

“My daughter and son have been watching [her perform] for a few years,” said Jessie Hettinga. “It’s exciting the fact that we can have our children achieve that dream of meeting a gold medalist.”

Wieber’s visit to Ballard was part of the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions 2012, which started in California and is making its way across America. The actual tour includes performances by the rest of the members of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, the U.S. men’s team, as well as many other ex-Olympic gymnasts.

Dori Overhus, 16, has been doing gymnastics for the past couple years. She had the opportunity to meet Wieber at a previous performance before she became a gold medalist. So the chance to meet her after all of Wieber’s stardom at a place so close to home was a dream come true.

“I think it’s really cool that she would come to where I live,” Overhus said. “I thought that she would never come here because we’re a little city and I’m just really excited.