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WOODS CROSS — A Syracuse gymnast is pinning his hopes on the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil.
Johnny Jacobson's first day on the mat was a tumbling class when he was 3-years-old. Since then, the 15-year-old has made the U.S. national gymnastics team and is on track for the Olympic trials in four years.
"He walked in the gym the first time and he started competing a few months later," he mother, Lynell Jacobson said of her son's natural ability in the sport.
To meet his goal, Johnny has been training seven hours a day all summer at USA World Gymnastics in Woods Cross.
His coach, Gabe Conner, helps Johnny inch toward his dream.
"For the athletes, it starts really, really young," he said. "Johnny is extremely self-motivated. Takes extra turns and pushes himself."
His family, says Lynell Jacobson, has had to make sacrifices for the teen's big dream.
"Our whole family, we have five children, and all of his siblings have had to sacrifice, to help make this come true for him," she said.
The community, too, has helped him with his dream. A few years ago, Johnny's father was laid off from work.
We didn't know how he was going to continue. But friends and family all pitched in to help, and a year later, he made the national team.
–- Lynell Jacobsen, mother
"We didn't know how he was going to continue," Lynell Jacobson said. "But friends and family all pitched in to help, and a year later, he made the national team."
Conner says this is a new challenge for him, too.
"I'm actually kind of surprised it's gone this far," Conner said.
Johnny's skills landed him a spot on the junior national team for 2012, where at 15 years-old, he was ranked seventh in the nation in his age group.
"It was kind of an eye-opener for me," Conner said. "Like, this kid really has got what it takes."
This is a bit of a rarity for Conner, who said he has never had a student working at this level. Currently, not just one, but two of his student gymnasts are on track for the US Olympic team in 2016.
Dylan Ellsworth, 16, competed at the 2012 Visa Cup Championships and said that the two teens push one another to work harder and keep going.
"We've been teammates for about three years now, and he's awesome," Dyland said. "One of the best teammates I've ever had."
Johnny admits that when Dylan learns a skill, then he wants to learn it as well.
"If he gets a skill then I'm like 'oh, I want that,' and I'll just work harder," Johnny said.
To make it to that Olympic stage, both of these athletes will have to remain determined. But if there is one thing the Jacobsons have learned, it's that they won't be alone.
"We just are very grateful to a lot of people, who have helped keep this dream alive," Lynell Jacobson said.
