Kids World Coach Saves Lives, Grows Healthy Kids

The folks at say they believe that every boy and girl has both the need and the potential to grow self-confidence through dynamic and fun physical activity.

The kid-centric facility, located at 8701 Dunn Rd., not only offers a number of different kinds of classes for kids ages 1 and up, but it also offers a few adult classes—many of which still have openings.

There are a variety of programs, including the following.

• Cheerleading
• Discovery Day Camp
• Gymnastics
• Open gym
• Preschool gymnastics
• Special events
• St. Louis Elite Tramp and Tumble
• Tramp and Tumble

The Kids World facility boasts 19,000 square feet of gym space which features state-of-the-art gym equipment and age-specific areas for younger kids, plus a viewing area  for parents. The facility even offers a Parents Night Out program.

Tested and Proven

Owner Gene Kohler said that safety, experience, excitement and enthusiasm are among the points that make Kids World stand out above other kid-focused gyms, and in December, he proved his point when he saved the life of a young gymnast after a near-fatal injury.

Sarah Carney, a 17-year-old member of Kohler’s St. Louis Elite Team, was practicing her trampoline routine one day when she dislocated her femur bone at the knee cap. The injury caused the kneecap to break through Carney’s skin and sever the femoral artery, causing a rapid loss of blood, according to a press release from the .

Kohler immediately called 911 but quickly realized that he Carney couldn’t wait for the paramedics. She was losing blood too quickly and needed immediate help, so Kohler found a mat strap and used it as a tourniquet, which helped to stop the bleeding and ultimately saved her life.

“Without Kohler’s quick and decisive actions, it is quite possible that the victim could have bled to death before the arrival of our paramedics,” said of the incident.

Support for a Coach

Carney’s family is understandably grateful for Kohler’s actions, and it was her father, Tom, who nominated him for a certificate of recognition from the City of Hazelwood.

“I believe Kohler’s actions provided the precious minutes necessary for the paramedics to arrive and get Sara to the hospital and then into surgery,” Tom Carney said. “We will be forever indebted to him and the other coaches for having the courage to act because those actions saved my daughter’s life.”

Kholer’s only regret is that the accident happened at all, but the Carney family said that they have no regrets in hiring Kohler to be their daughter’s coach.

“We kept telling him how thankful we were for his actions and he kept telling us how sorry he was that it happened and how helpless he felt not being able to prevent it,” Carney said. “We spent a lot of time just giving comfort to each other.”

The Carney family still highly recommends Kohler and Kids World to anyone who asks.

“I admire Kohler for his coaching style,” Carney said, pointing out that his daughter has participated in gymnastics with many coaches over the years. “He has the ability to connect with the gymnasts. His…philosophy has always been to use positive motivation.”

Carney added that parents who were thinking about enrolling their kids in tumbling or trampoline classes should consider Kids World Gymnastics.

Have you or your children participated in classes as Kids World? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section, below, or