Two-year-old Mikayla Myers-Arenth, of Lawrence, performs on a gymnastics bar for her parents Saturday afternoon at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St. Kids of all ages attended the National Gymnastics Day events at the recreation center, where they received a day of free instruction from Lawrence Parks and Recreation staff members and volunteers.

Alexis Foster is a special 4-year-old girl.

She can do most gymnastic stunts better than those older than her and she’s missing her left foot.

It was severed during a June 10, 2006, mowing accident at her Eudora home.

Gymnastics was important to Alexis before the accident and it’s even more important now, said Donna Foster, her mother.

Alexis played with kids of all ages Saturday at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, which was celebrating National Gymnastics Day. The event is designed to raise awareness and increase excitement for the sport. National Gymnastics Day was established in 1999, but this is the first year the Lawrence recreation center has participated.

“This is her safety zone,” Donna Foster said.

The gymnastics room at the recreation center is where Alexis is overcoming her disability, developing skills and gaining independence.

“I want to do it all by myself,” she told a staff member as she pushed a foam pad up to a bar and performed a pullover.

And with every stunt she bragged to Mom.

“I did it all by myself, Mom,” she yelled.

Donna Foster said she’s amazed by her daughter’s abilities.

She said it makes the awful accident, in which she backed over her daughter with a lawn mower, much easier to cope with.

“I’m just glad that I still have a little girl who is happy and loving,” she said.

Alexis ran over to walk across the balance beam, but not the one any other child her size would choose: the large balance beam. She leaped off the end, landing on both limbs, with no hesitation at all.

Her left ankle extends down into a square shape. Skin grafting has allowed her to walk with ease.

Donna Foster couldn’t be behind National Gymnastics Day more. She said gymnastics has been her family’s rock.

“This is the best program in the world,” Donna Foster said.

“Mom, I did it again,” yelled Alexis, as she showed off her Hula-Hoop skills.

“It’s just her life, that’s what she does all day long,” Donna Foster said.