COEUR d'ALENE - Little Chara Busby has dreams of Olympic success.

She defies gravity on the uneven bars and sails through the air with confidence.

"It's like you're flying like a bird," the 11-year-old Post Falls gymnast said.

Chara joined more than 1,000 other young gymnasts from Western states and Canada to compete in the Great West Gym Fest 2014, which took place in The Coeur d'Alene Resort bays all day Friday and continues with top-qualifying competitions through this evening.

Chara and her Level 8 Avant Coeur Gymnastics teammates Kiandra Carpenter, 16, and Nicole Dundas, 14, spent three weeks preparing for the competition.

"We're really not mean competitors," Kiandra said. "But mentally, I feel like this is kind of like the Super Bowl of gymnastics. It's such a great meet, there's always so much going on."

"It's better than states (competitions)," Chara added.

Gymnasts twirled, flipped and spun on balance beams and uneven bars and propelled themselves into the air during vaults and floor exercises. They were divided into groups based on ability, from Level 2 beginner to advanced Level 10. They competed for plaques, bragging rights and carved wooden bear trophies, but members of Avant Coeur were prepared to perform.

"I get butterflies, but I don't get nervous during the middle of the season," Chara said. "You learn that it's fun to do, and you can show how good you can be."

"It definitely pushes you to find your passion and be able to love something for as long as you can do it," Kiandra said.

The Great West Gym Fest, in its 13th year, also featured six official Olympic guests. Three-time Olympian, Olympic champion and world champion Svetlana Boguinskaia of Russia and five-time Olympic gold medalist Daniela Silivas of Romania were on hand to cheer for the young gymnasts and present awards. They also offered guidance and provided some historical context for future Olympians.

"I think they learn from a young age to work for what they want, and not to quit when it's hard," Silivas said. "I think it's important later in life, what they learn in gymnastics."

This was Silivas' third time volunteering at the Great West Gym Fest, and Boguinskaia's first. Both began their careers in gymnastics at age 6.

"This sport gives them discipline, teamwork, and (they) support each other and listen to adults," Boguinskaia said. "I think this competition makes them better athletes and better people just to come and give them confidence to perform in front of many people, being alone, only them. It takes courage and confidence to do that and it develops some later life skills."

Even Olympians get nervous, but Boguinskaia said there is a good reason for that.

"Nervousness is more like butterflies, it's excitement," she said. "If you stop getting nervous and stop getting those butterflies it means you don't care. You're nervous because you want to do well."

Upbeat music and special lighting contributed to the high-energy atmosphere. Inland Empire Gymnastics Association meet director and event coordinator Dave Adlard said the competition was going well, with sessions running on time and early.

"We really put all the special touches and effort to make it the most fun meet the kids go to all year," he said. "People just love the meet, and that's why they keep coming."

The event will end with "The Big Show" after 6 tonight, including plenty of lights, music djs, a parade of Olympians and more.

Info: http://www.greatwestgymfest.com