By the time most 13-year-olds are halfway through their homework, scrolling TikTok, or deep in the lore of the latest Taylor Swift album drop, Grace Yuresko-Ordonez is already airborne — twisting, flipping, and landing a floor routine that demands focus, courage, and serious muscle memory.
Ask Grace to sum up gymnastics in three words and she doesn’t hesitate: stressful, fun, and challenging — a combo as electric as Eleven, Eggos, and the Upside Down. “It’s worth the hard work and stress because it’s fun to flip around,” she says, laughing, “and it keeps me fit and strong!” It’s a mix that feels perfectly on brand for a sport that rewards both fearlessness and finesse.
A Rancho Mission Viejo local, Grace trains an impressive 18 hours a week at South Coast Gymnastics in Irvine. There, the vault isn’t just another apparatus — it’s a launchpad. “It makes me feel free when I start training,” she explains. “My teammates and I push each other to our limits, but we also joke around and have fun. That’s what makes it better.”
Her favorite moment on the floor comes during a demanding tumbling pass: front handspring, front layout, to stag jump. “It’s hard to connect everything,” she admits, “but when it all lands smoothly, I feel so happy. It’s like everything clicks at once.”
That confidence didn’t appear overnight. Grace credits Coach Nicole for helping her work through fear and self-doubt. “She’s really patient and always believes in me,” Grace says. “She helped me find confidence when I didn’t think I had it.”
Outside the gym, Grace loves cruising around Rancho Mission Viejo on her e-bike, usually headed for Starbucks with her best friend. The two met at gymnastics when they were just 5 years old, and their bond has grown so close that their families now feel like one big team.
When it comes to inspiration, Grace looks up to Suni Lee for her elegance on floor and Simone Biles for her unmatched power on vault. “I have a lot of power too,” she says with a grin. “I’d love to meet them someday.”
From gravity-defying routines to lifelong friendships, Grace Yuresko-Ordonez proves that Rancho Mission Viejo isn’t just raising strong athletes, but confident, determined role models in the making.
