[VIDEO] Cowesett Gymnast, 15, Comes In 2nd In Jr. Nationals

David Jessen was raised to be a gymnast — and he's turning out to be a very good one. At 15, he's one of the top junior gymnasts in the country. Earlier this month, he came in second over all at the Mens Junior Olympics Nationals in Cincinnati, Ohio.

David's parents own in Coventry and his mother, Hana Ricna, was a two-time member of the Olympic team of the former Czechloslovakia. So gymnastics has been a big part of Jessen's life.

Ricna said her son did a great job in Ohio. "It was actually must better than we expected." In addition to the second place all-around finish, he came in second on the vault, second on the horse and third on the high bar.

"I did a lot better than I expected," David agreed. "After the first day, I was in seventh place. ... I had a really good second day."

To get those sorts of results, as well as continue to aim for the 2016 Olympics, Jessen practices six days a week, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. "I have Sundays for rest," he said. "It’s tough to fit in all the homework that I have to do because I’m so busy." That said, he's a good student who earns mostly A's.

"It’s been school, as much homework as I can, gym, finish up, eat dinner, go to bed and then start over again," he said of his routine.

As for what part of gymnastics he likes best, he said, "My favorite’s either the parallel bars or the horizontal bar because I think it’s cool to be able to fly in the air," he said.