Aimee Walker Pond, a 23-year-old student athlete at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, hopes to help students with disabilities. Pond grew up in southern California and attended her school’s mainstream program in North Hollywood, California.
She signed up for gymnastics when she was 8 years old and began a successful career. In 1998, Pond traveled to Russia to represent the U.S.A. in gymnastics. In 1999, she placed 6th in floor, 9th on bars, and 19th overall at the Jr. Olympics National, and she later placed 2nd all-around at the International Elite in San Diego 2000.
When she was 13 years old, she was in the television show “Baywatch.” She also appeared in the documentary film, Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.
After graduating from high school in 2002, Pond, who is deaf and also blind in one eye, attended the University of California, Los Angeles. Two years later she married Derek Pond, a sign language interpreter, and moved to Utah to attend BYU. She competed on the 2006 BYU gymnastics team, but an injured ankle kept her sidelined for the rest of the season.
Pond’s goal is to get 100 percent healthy from her injury so she can compete for BYU this coming season. She also has a long-term goal: After receiving her degree in recreational management and youth leadership, she hopes to travel around the country and encourage children with disabilities. Her message: “Never give up. Work hard and you can achieve anything in life.”
