About Little Legends
Who We Are
Little Legends Athletics is a family-owned recreational gymnastics and ninja facility located in the Riverside Downs area of Littleton, Colorado. Founded by Olympian Jessica López and NCAA Champion and world-class coach Linas Gaveika, Little Legends blends elite experience with a family-centered mission: to provide a safe, fun, and developmentally supportive environment where children build confidence, coordination, and a love for movement.
We believe every child deserves access to high-quality instruction and play-based movement—without the pressure of competition. Our programs are designed to meet children where they are, supporting physical, social, and emotional growth in a positive, encouraging setting.
"Built with love, for families like yours"
Our Facility
Our facility is designed specifically for recreational families, with spaces for both gymnastics and ninja training. From preschool-friendly equipment to obstacle courses and open play areas, every part of the gym is built to support safe exploration, age-appropriate challenges, and lots of fun.
Whether your child is taking their very first class, joining Open Gym, attending a camp, or celebrating a birthday party, our space is built to feel welcoming, energetic, and family-friendly.
Our Story
Little Legends Athletics was created to fill a gap we saw in our community—one we felt personally as athletes and as parents. While we grew up in competitive gymnastics environments, our love for the sport began much earlier through simple moments of play, movement, and joy. As parents, we noticed how few spaces truly prioritize that early experience, so we created a recreational-first gym where every child feels welcome, confidence comes before competition, and movement is something kids look forward to.
The Founders
Linas Gaveika
Owner
Linas Gaveika is a leader in gymnastics with nearly two decades of NCAA Division I coaching experience, most recently as Associate Head Coach at the University of Denver. As an athlete, he competed at World and European Championships, became an NCAA Champion, earned multiple All-American honors, and was recognized as MVP at the University of Iowa.
As a coach, Linas spent 17 years in collegiate athletics, helping elevate Denver into a perennial Top-10 program. During his tenure, the University of Denver achieved the most successful results in program history, including multiple appearances at the NCAA Championships and a historic 4th-place team finish at the NCAA Finals. Beyond results, he mentored athletes who went on to become leaders, professionals, and changemakers.
Linas has overseen youth programs and summer camps for over a decade, managing hiring, payroll, staffing, safety systems, and program operations. At Little Legends Athletics, he designs systems that ensure every child—regardless of starting point—has a clear, safe, and achievable developmental pathway, blending elite coaching expertise with a passion for joyful, developmentally sound experiences for kids.
Jessica Lopez
Owner
Jessica López brings a lifelong love of gymnastics and a deep commitment to youth development to Little Legends Athletics. A three-time Olympian representing Venezuela (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016), she has competed at the highest levels of the sport, including World Championships and Pan American Games.
After her competitive career, Jessica has remained actively involved in gymnastics as an FIG Brevet Judge, clinician, and mentor, and continues to contribute to Colorado’s gymnastics community through leadership and service. She is honored to be a member of the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame and the University of Denver Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jessica’s approach is shaped not only by her athletic background, but also by her education and professional experience. She holds an MBA with Excellence in Academics and a Master of Studies in Law (MSL), which support her work in building thoughtful, well-structured programs and organizations.
At Little Legends Athletics, Jessica focuses on creating a welcoming, family-centered environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to move. As a mom herself, she understands what families value most—trust, consistency, and joy—and is passionate about helping children build confidence through positive movement experiences and play.
Parents, Partners, and Purpose
In addition to their elite athletic backgrounds, Jessica and Linas are parents themselves. They are raising their almost 3-year-old daughter, Alina, and recently welcomed their newborn son, Matías, giving them a deeply personal understanding of what families truly value in youth programming: safety, structure, fun, trust, and connection.
Their combined experience—global athletics, elite coaching, business leadership, and everyday parenting—shapes everything at Little Legends Athletics. The result is a gym that is professionally run, developmentally focused, family-centered, community-driven, and built for long-term impact.
Little Legends Athletics is more than a gym—it’s a place where little legends grow!