Charlie Kaijo/Arizona Republic

Olympian Amanda Borden speaks to the audience at the Arizona Storytellers night of stories from Olympians and the journalists who cover them on July 19, 2016

KJZZ partners with the Arizona Republic to bring you the Arizona Storytellers series. We record the live events and share them with you on the radio. In Phoenix, the storytellers sometimes share stories about our community or the life events that have shaped them in general. Megan Finnerty is the creator of the series. 

Gymnast Amanda Borden started gymnastics when she was 7. When she was 15, she competed in the 1992 Olympic trials and made the team. But two days later she got a call from the president of USA Gymnastics and he told her she wasn't old enough for the team. Still, she stuck with it.

At 18, Borden had to decide whether to go to college on a full scholarship or try again for the Olympic team.

The next storytelling event is Aug. 8, 2016, at Valley Bar in Downtown Phoenix. 

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