In May 1984, David Mackey took a chance and opened his own gymnastics business.
“I started this business on a shoestring,” he said. “I was fresh out of college and had no money, but knew I wanted to take the risk and do what I loved.”
Now 30 years laters, Gymnastics Unlimited in Federal Way currently has about 200 kids enrolled in several programs for all different levels of gymnasts. Boys and girls ages 3 to 18 years old can be involved. The business offers preschool, beginning, intermediate, junior and senior high and advanced classes. The 8,000-square-foot facility features every apparatus used in gymnastics, including balance beams, bars and a regulation floor exercise mat.
“We participate in many competitions, including the U.S. Gymnastics Association meets,” Mackey said. “We’ve been to Alaska and are getting ready to head to Hawaii.”
Community members are hosting an open house anniversary celebration for Mackey this month to honor his service to gymnastics and the city of Federal Way.
“This business has and continues to enrich the lives of children,” said Melissa Santoyo, Gymnastics Unlimited employee. “It’s not only family-owned, but serves multiple generations of families.”
Mackey said he is now coaching kids whose parents he use to coach.
“Next come the grandchildren of the kids I use to coach,” he said.
Mackey said gymnastics is useful for every sport and was created to make an all-around athlete.
“We have cheerleaders, divers, swimmers and a lot of martial arts kids in here,” he said. “The core of gymnastics is to make you a better athlete so it is valuable for kids in any sport to come try it out. It helps you build muscles, core strength and other important things.”
Mackey noted he uses his gym for more than just teaching the kids about gymnastics.
“Unlimited is in our title for a reason,” he said. “We want well-rounded athletes and we equip them to go off and be healthy, good people too.”
Mackey teaches kids about the importance of eating healthy and exercising.
“I’m proud of that,” he said. “This is a positive place where someone every day walks away learning something new they can apply to their lives someday.”
Mackey and his staff treat every student as if they are part of a family.
“We know every kid’s name and we build our workouts and programs to fit their personal needs,” he said. “We are small and don’t try to be a factory.”
Mackey applies his personal experience to the workplace. He was a former high school gymnast and won a national gymnastics championship award.
“I went to college and then felt the need to come back into gymnastics because it always gave me so much,” he said. “I had a lot of different coaches and grew a lot because of those people.”
Mackey said the kids are what makes him enjoy his job all these years later.
“They are a joy to work with and to be around,” he said. “I think that even if I retire I will stay here working in the office to still be a part of everything.”
It’s the success stories that make Mackey feel proud.
“We have kids come back after graduating college and talk about how they had a good experience here and it gave them the skills they needed in their sport and in life,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.”
More information
Gymnastics Unlimited is located at 34016 Ninth Ave., Suite D-5 in Federal Way.
For more information, call 253-815-0998.
