Estela De La Torre Borja is a well known gymnast that competed in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow in GK competitive apparel. She was the only athlete to qualify from Mexico at the time. Estela was given a GK leotard to wear in 1979 to World Championships. She wore it again for the Olympics in 1980. She currently serves on the Board for the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
This highly influential gymnast is hosting an annual international competition called the Mexican Open in Acapulco, Mexico November 28-30, 2013. The competition is dedicated to giving young gymnasts international experience. Thirteen countries have confirmed their attendance to the Mexican Open including Russia, China, United States, Japan, Romania, Italy, Uzbekistan, Colombia, Brazil, Ukraine, Canada, Spain and of course the host country, Mexico. Many internationally recognized women gymnasts have already confirmed their attendance, including Raquel Silva - BRA, Sabrina Gill - CAN, Zeng SIQI - CHN, Roxana Popa- ESP, Peyton Ernst - EUA, Maggie Nichols - EUA, Francesca de Agostini - ITA, Amaranta Torres - MEX, Evgeniya Shelgunova - RUS, Kysla Angelina - UCR, Oksana Chusovitina - UZB, Men gymnasts confirmed are Francisco Barretto - BRA, Joshua Stuart - CAN, Zhang Yang - CHN, Jossimar Calvo - COL, Rubén López - ESP, Josh Dixon - EUA, Ludovico Edalli - ITA, Nikita Ignatyev - RUS, Koji Uematsu - JPN, Kevin Cerda - MEX, Vlad Bogdan COTUNA - RUM, Yudenkov Evgen - UCR. Special guests include gymnastics legends, Nadia Comaneci and three-time Olympian Svetlana Boguinskaia.
Estela promises that GK leos are the best in the world and wanted us to be a part of this event. Our GK booth will offer a variety of styles new to the gymnastics industry and we are so excited to share our passion for the sport of gymnastics. This year, Estela will be presenting the GK Elegance Award. The winner of the award will receive a couture version, shown on the left, of our Glamour SWAROVSKI Leotard 1007. This is a gorgeous V back long sleeve gymnastics leotard featured in Gold Leaf and Antique Gold Mystique fabrics with a modified high cut leg. This modern leotard features a Black mesh inset with Gold Mystique underlay. The body and sleeves are adorned with over 10,000 Gold Brilliance, Metallic Gold, and Brilliance SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.
Featured below are photos of Estella competing in her GK leotard from the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and a photo of her GK leo that still fits!
Estela brightens any room she walks into and we were happy to catch up with her recently. Enjoy our conversation with her below.
GK - You have been passionate about the sport of gymnastics for most of your life. How can you describe your journey in this sport and what have you learned from it?
Estela - I started gymnastics when I was 6 years old. I was very very active and never stopped doing gymnastics all over my house. My Father Carlos, my Mother Estela and my Brothers: Carlos, Federico, Monica, Mario Ana Mary support me all the time to be the best gymnast and diver in México and compete all over the world representing my country. During the Olympics in Montreal 1976 I saw Nadia Comaneci competing on TV and she inspired me to be like her and I dreamdt of meeting her one day. When I started gymnastics, I competed in The Junior Club until I started training in the Mexican Olympic Center. I competed from México in Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico 1979 winning the Team Bronze Medal. Then I competed in the World Championship in Forth Worth in 1979, where I was the only Mexican Gymnast qualified for the Olympics in Moscu 1980. Before the Olympics in Moscú, I competed in The Pan Pacific in Hawaii, Edmonton and Seattle. After that I competed in the American Cup in the Madison Square Garden. Also some other competitions I participated in were in the Moscú News, Budapest and Riga Cup. At 15 years old, the year of 1980 in Mosco, I had one of my best experiences of my life. My best memory was my leotard from GK because I competed with the same leotard I used in the World Championship in Forth Word, Texas. I did my best competition and my dream came true! i Competed in the Olympics beside Nadia Comaneci. Wahooo!!! This was an amazing and unforgettable experience. In this Olympics, I was surprised because I competed in the All Around Finals making history in Mexico, to be until this year the only Mexican Gymnast in the History competing in the All Around Finals. Finally when I retired from gymnastics I started diving in the Mexican Olympic Center. When I first began I went to the Centroamerican Games winning 3 gold medals in Santo Domingo, Republica Domenicana. After this I competed in Pan Am Games in Venezuela where I finished in 4th place on 10 mts platform. Then went to compete to Russia, Fina Cup in Shangai-China, Germany, Sweden,Austria and Italy making finals in 10mts Platform. My best result in diving was 8th place in the World Diving Championship in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
GK - What are some of the major obstacles you had to overcome through your gymnastics career?
Estela - My injuries. I overcame these obstacles by going to the gym in the Olympic Center, instead of staying in my house. My home was and still is the Mexican Olympic Center in México, City.
GK - Why do you love GK gymnastics apparel?
Estela - I love GK gymnastics apparel because as a gymnast the only thing I buy when I travel were all colors and shapes of leotards all over the world and the best are GK styles. I have a massive collection of GK competition leos, and still have my BEST GK leotard, the one that I competed in the World Championship and Olympic Games. I Love it !!!
GK - What advice would you give to aspiring gymnasts based on your experiences?
Estela - My best advice for all boy and girl gymnasts is that they have to enjoy this beautiful sport and make their dreams come true. Also never give up. With hard work, discipline and tenacity you will make your goals come true. GO FOR THEM!
GK - Describe how you have remained focused on your career through the years.
Estela - I am very proud to have the best family with me all the time, also I am very happy for having been a gymnast and a diver representing Mexico all over the world. I am also very proud to have covered 6 Olympic Games on Mexican TV as a Commentator of Artistic Gymnastic, Rythmic Gymnastic, Diving and Synchronized Swimming in Seúl-1988, Barcelona-1992, Atlanta-1996, Sidney-2000, Athens-2004, Beijing-2008 and London-2012. I am still a TV Commentator in Televisa Deportes Network.
GK - What are your plans for the future in the gymnastics industry?
Estela - Now I am currently the General Director of the Mexican Open in Acapulco along with Grupo Pegaso. I am on the Board of IGHOF, which has been a wonderful experience. Working with some of my favorite people including Paul Ziert, Bart Conner, Michael Wilson and all of the Team US Boarders in this IGHOF. My plans for the future in gymnastics industry is to help and improve this brilliant sport in the world. I would love to have my very own exclusive gymnastics designs with GK!
Shop GK's Special Order Women's Long Sleeve Leotards today for the latest in gymnastics competition apparel.
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