The daily dose of Olympics coverage on television has caused added interest in swimming and gymnastics opportunities in Abilene.

Beamers Gymnastics and Abilene Gymnastics Sports Center have had a surge of inquiries about classes during the past week. And through fortunate timing the Tidal Wave swim team at Redbud YMCA is holding a weeklong swim camp.

As of late Sunday, 15 had signed up for the second-year event, according to coach Jenna Purkey. At the initial camp last summer an estimated 40 people arrived unannounced on the first day, and she said she expects something similar this year.

"We have had quite a number of kids join swimming in the past few weeks because of the Olympic hype," Purkey said. "Parents are saying, 'My kids have been watching the Olympics on TV and want to try swimming.'

"I just got a message from a mom who has a 7-year-old and a 10-year-old. They are so excited about Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals and they want to come to the YMCA swim camp."

Purkey said a team representing West Texas, including seven members of the Tidal Wave, was in Atlanta the week before the Olympics for a national meet. They were already pumped up by the Olympic trials; then they got to compete in the same pool in Atlanta that was used during the 1996 games.

"That was a neat opportunity," Purkey said.

Amanda Campos, 16, was one of the competitors in Atlanta. She has been on the Tidal Wave since moving to Abilene from New Mexico five years ago.

"I've never seen so many records being smashed by that much time," Campos said. "It makes us want to train harder and work harder.

"My friends are amazed by what the swimmers have been doing. They're shocked by someone like Michael Phelps, who can swim that fast and get that many medals. They ask, 'How do they do it?' He trains really hard, loves what he does, has a passion for the sport. Not just him, but all the Olympic swimmers."

Local gymnastics schools report a marked upswing in calls inquiring about classes.

"It's been constant -- people calling and signing up," said Dominique Aguirre, owner of Beamers Gymnastics. "One time last week I had 22 voice-mail messages in two hours at the gym. Every little girl sits home and watches (the Olympics) and says, 'I want to do that!'"

Aguirre reports her classes are nearly full.

"I think I've got two spots left. I'm afraid I'm going to have to open up some new classes. I've already opened another preschool class and another girls' class."

Aguirre's teams sometimes compete against a gym in Plano that is the home gym for Nastia Liukin, who won the gold medal for women's individual all-around.

"We haven't competed against her because she is so high up there," Aguirre said.

Jack Smith, of Abilene Gymnastics Sports Center, said he also has received more phone calls during the Olympics.

"This time every four years, we always have 20 to 25 percent more people calling and enrolling," he said. "We've already seen an increase in phone calls -- little girls and guys inspired by what they see on TV."

Smith said he is pleased with the efforts of all the Olympians, not just the gymnasts.

"Not only is it a lesson in inspiring gymnasts, it's an inspiration for young and old alike, to see that we still have folks in our country setting goals and working toward those goals. Not just dreaming, but putting feet on those dreams."

Smith said he sees that determination reflected in many of the young gymnasts he coaches.

"In the evenings we almost have to turn the lights out to get them to go home. They just love it," he said.

One of those competitors is Allison Scott, 11, who just completed her first year of competition with the team. She just returned from a vacation to New Mexico. Even on vacation she took time to find a gym and keep up her practice routine. She also has watched the Olympics with an especially close eye on the gymnasts.

"I've watched almost every hour (of the Olympics)," she said. "They're really focused. When they don't have such a good routine, they try to do better the next exercise. Some are powerful, some are graceful, some are both. They're all really good."

Do she envision herself there someday?

"A long time from now. Maybe."