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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • KIDS & EDUCATION • THE QUEENS COURIER 31 kids & education Harlem Globetrotter treats Fresh Meadows kids to some b-ball tricks BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com/@ smont76 A Harlem Globetrotter came to Fresh Meadows last week to visit a group of energetic young gymnasts as they prepared for their big performance at the basketball team’s halft ime show. Julian “Zeus” McClurkin was met with cheers and elation from the “My Gym Tumblers” when he surprised the children, ages fi ve to 11, at their practice on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Th e talented gymnastics team performed at the Globetrotters’ halft ime show at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Feb. 20. Aft er greeting the students and being met with exclamations of “He’s so tall,” the six-foot-eight McClurkin motivated the students while they performed a series of athletic moves, starting with a roundoff . “Is he gonna be here forever?” one excited student inquired to Meredith Coleman, the director of the gym. Monday’s appearance was the team’s third performance at Madison Square Garden with the Globetrotters, Coleman said. Th e team has also performed at the Barclays Center, Hersheypark and the Queens Health Expo. “Th ey’re going to be doing a tumbling performance,” Coleman said. “Th ey’re going to be doing cartwheels on the balance beam, front fl ips, as well as front walkovers and back walkovers.” Founded in 1926, the Globetrotters have entertained over 144 million fans in 122 countries and territories by combining athleticism, theater and comedy into one performance. McClurkin said he was impressed with the group’s energy and spirit, which pairs well with the Globetrotter’s high fl ying, dynamic spectacles. “Th e kids are really athletic,” McClurkin said. “Th ey gave us a little preview of what they’re gonna be doing at halft ime — some front fl ips and back fl ips.” McClurkin was asked if he thought the students had the potential to be future Globetrotters. “Definitely, definitely,” McClurkin said. “We got a guy on the team named Flip, so as long as you know how to fl ip I think you got a chance to be a Globetrotter.” My Gym is located at 176-60 Union Tpke. and off ers fi tness classes and programming for children up to age 13. Photos: Suzanne Monteverdi/THE COURIER Julian “Zeus” McClurkin arrives at the Fresh Meadows children’s gymnasium.


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