Only on FOX 29: All eyes will be on the 2012 Summer Olympics in England this year. But here in our area, preparing for the Olympics takes place all year round.
FOX 29's Angela DelVecchio shows us that Olympic Gold is very close to home.
A 150,000-square-foot facility in Reading, Pa., is home to 400 employees, and what makes this company so unique is what they make.
"GK-Elite is the largest designer of gymnastic apparel in the world," says Kelly McKeown, GK Elite Executive Vice President of Design & Corporate Relations. "We have such a diverse workforce of many different cultures it is such a melting pot here, which makes it so fun and exciting."
Close to 2,000 Olympians from 10 countries, including the USA, will be wearing GK Elite's designs in the London Olympics.
"Each country is really unique. The designers just put all their ideas on paper, and the head coach will look at the sketches and narrow down what they like," McKeown said.
Their design combinations, coupled with their one-of-a-kind technology, makes their clothing a perfect 10.
Donato Casciano, GK Elite's Vice President of Operations, said they use the "state-of-the-art cutting facility that we have here to cut the fabric down to an eighth-of-an-inch, so the athlete is getting the best fit at all times."
Employees here say it's their pride that really fuels their passion for what they do.
"To see what you have your hand in on TV at the Olympics, to this day I still get chills when I see them," said Embellishment Supervisor Tracey Shepherd.
Their creations have clothed gold medallists and are inspired by legends. They are also endorsed by Olympic greats such Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson.
But perhaps it's those Swarovski Crystals applied by hand and special laser that make GK-Elite a standout from the rest. They're the largest supplier of Swarovski Crystals in North America, with 19.5 million crystals used last year alone.
This one-of-a-kind couture collection will be on display for the world to see next week
"All the clear ones were put on by hand with tweezers. It took 80 hours to complete. I really wanted to make it elegant," designer Jeanne Douglas said.
With the Olympics a month away, no doubt all eyes will be on gymnastics and their GK Elite apparel.
From standout uniforms to champion gymnasts, the Parkettes Gymnastics in Allentown is also home to Olympic hopefuls including 16 year-old Elizabeth Price.
Elizabeth Price is hoping to earn her spot in this year's Olympics. She is one of 15 girls across the country to qualify for the Olympic Trials.
"I'm very excited to qualify for the Olympic Trials. It is a great honor because not a lot of gymnasts get the opportunity, and few get to go, so I'm very excited."
Her love of gymnastics started when she was only 3.
"She was pretty much someone who stood out from the very beginning," said Donna Strauss, Elizabeth's coach. "There was this explosiveness about her, and the brain was working at a young age."
Price will be competing this weekend in California, and no doubt will be a standout with her talent and elite look, DelVecchio reported.
