Almost since she began tumbling at age 3, Abigail Milliet has had the physical tools to become an elite gymnast.

It’s not until the past 12 months, however, that the Denton eighth-grader has developed the mental toughness to compete favorably against top-notch competition.

Milliet and her coaches think that maturity will benefit Milliet this week, when she competes against the best youth gymnasts in the country at the Visa Championships in Dallas.

Milliet will be one of 33 qualifiers competing in the junior women’s division on Thursday and Saturday afternoon at American Airlines Center, with a goal of being among the 18 finalists selected for the U.S. Junior national team.

“Our goal this year was to qualify at the junior international level,” said Milliet’s coach, Rodica Lazar. “We are very happy with the result. It’s been a very consistent year for her.”

Milliet, who attends Denton Calvary Academy, qualified for the national championship meet by placing 11^th out of 52 competitors at the U.S. Classic/U.S. Challenge meet last month in Des Moines, Iowa. At that meet she also placed fourth in the vault, her best event.

“It meant a lot because the Visa Cup is a really big meet,” said Milliet, who claims that the uneven bars is her favorite event. “I haven’t been expecting it, but it’s good because I have worked really hard.”

Milliet became a Level 10 gymnast, which is the highest level in youth gymnastics, about a year ago. Since then, she has worked to add new skills on each event, Lazar said.

Milliet finished second in Texas last year during her Level 9 season, and has avoided major injuries since, which has allowed for consistent improvement in her training, Lazar said.

“She’s physically gifted and very strong. It was just a matter of time until the discipline and mental aspect came around,” said John Milliet, Abigail’s father. Both of Milliet’s sisters -- one older and one younger -- also are involved in the sport.

“We’re very proud of her. She works very hard,” John said. “This year it’s been a nice steady advancement to this point, so it’s very gratifying.”

Milliet has trained for the past decade with Lazar and her husband, Aurel, who launched Denton Gymnastics Academy in early 2007. She will be the gym’s first entrant into a national championship meet.

The Lazars were each decorated gymnasts in their native Romania, then coached that country’s junior national team from 1986-1992. They moved to Belgium and then to Denton in 1999, coaching in Corinth for several years before opening their own gym.

Lazar said Milliet has the ability to finish well this week, during which cumulative scores from the two sessions will determine a winner. But regardless of the result, Lazar said the high-profile experience will benefit Milliet in the future.

“She has the potential to be one of the best vaulters in the country,” Lazar said. “It will help her a lot for next year and will be an excellent experience for her.”

Milliet, who will compete Thursday on her 13^th birthday, will be among the youngest gymnasts in her division, which covers ages 12-15.

Her ultimate goal is a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 2012 in London, where she could follow in the footsteps of her idol, Nastia Liukin, who won an all-around Olympic gold medal last summer in Beijing.

Liukin will compete this week in the senior women’s competition, which follows the juniors on each day. Milliet said she plans to stay in the arena and watch, hoping to learn from the best.

Although she is nervous about Thursday, Milliet isn’t shy of the spotlight or the anticipated big crowd.

“A lot of people don’t really bother me,” she said.

TODD JORGENSON can be reached at 940-566-6871. His e-mail address is tjorgenson@dentonrc.com.