Long before she was an Olympian, and before she was named the best floor routine gymnast in the world, Aly Raisman first stepped on to a gymnastics mat at Exxcel Gymnastics in Newton. 

As New England Cable News reported Tuesday, Raisman, a Needham native, started at the Wells Avenue gym when she was in preschool and trained there until she was 12 years old.

For more information, read the full story on NECN.

Exxcel has been holding screenings during Raisman's routines using a live, online feed, NECN reported. A large group of local gymnasts gathered in the gym to cheer on Raisman during the events, hoping they too can stand on the Olympic podium someday. 

After leading the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team to a gold medal in the team final, Raisman narrowly missed a medal in the individual, all-around final last week. 

But Tuesday was Raisman's shot at redemption. 

Following a scoring inquiry from her coach, Raisman took the bronze medal in the individual balance beam competition. A short while later, she flew her way to a gold medal in the individual floor routine—the first gold medal in the event for a U.S. woman.

Raisman flipped and tumbled in her floor routine to "Hava Nagila," a tribute to her Jewish heritage. The local gymnast and her family are members of Temple Beth Avodah in Newton Centre. 

But Raisman's connection to Newton doesn't end there; she has a special set of earrings she has been wearing during the Olympics that were made by Newton Highlands jeweler Adamas Fine Jewelry.

The local jeweler gave Raisman the earrings before she left for London, and promised a pair to her teammates if they brought home the gold medal. 

Looking for more local Olympics coverage? Check out stories on Newton natives Gevvie Stone (rowing) and Stu McNay (sailing), who also competed in the 2012 London Olympics.