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Dienstag, Januar 03, 2012

McKayla Maroney

McKayla Maroney

Birthdate: 12/9/1995
Program: Women's Artistic
Level: Senior
Current Residence: Long Beach, CA
Club: All Olympia AOGC
Head Coach: Arthur Akopyan
Other Coaches: Galina Marinova


Career Highlights

  • 2011 World Championships team and vault gold medalist


Personal Information

Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Year in School: Sophomore
Name of High School: Homeschooled
High School Graduation Year: 2014
Year you began gymnastics: 1997
Favorite Event: Probably floor because it's the only event that you can really express yourself.
How did you get involved in gymnastics: My mom put me in gymnastics because i had so much energy and i was always running around, so she thought gymnastics might take away some of the insane amounts of energy.
Favorite thing about gymnastics: The feeling when you have worked so hard for something then finally getting the skill, or achieving the long time goal.
What are your goals for gymnastics?: I would love to compete for USA at Worlds and the Olympics.
Names of parents/guardians: Mike and Erin
Names of sibling(s): Tarynn and Kav
Family members in sports: My family is very athletic in to all different sports. Dad was quarterback for Purdue

Interests Outside the Gym

Favorite school subject: English
Hobbies or favorite activities: Go to movies and the beach, hang out at the pool, shopping.
Favorite music: Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Drake, Miriah Carey, Taylor Swift, Chris Brown, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and Beyonce.
Favorite book(s): Audrey Wait, Tucks Everlasting, Hunger Game series, Uglies series, Percy Jackson series, The Last Song, A Dogs Life, The mysterious Benedict Society,
Favorite movie(s): Yes Man, Last Song, Transformers, Pirates, Shutters Island, The Gaurdian, Elf, Avatar, and Inception.
Favorite TV show(s): Keeping up with the Kardashions, Jerseylicious, Enews, Pretty Little Liars, and Make it or Break it.
Favorite Food: Sushi, strawberries, mangos
Other sports involvement: I used to do soccer, ice skating and tennis.

National Competition Results

2011 Visa Championships, Saint Paul, Minn. - 1st-VT; 2nd-AA; 5th-FX; 7th-BB
2011 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 5th-FX; 6th-BB
2010 Visa Championships, Hartford, Conn. - 1st-VT; 3rd-AA; 4th-FX(T); 7th-BB (Jr. Div.)
2010 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 2nd-VT(T); 5th-FX; 7th-AA (Jr. Div.)
2009 Visa Championships, Dallas, Texas - 3rd-VT (Jr. Div.)

International Competition Results

2011 World Championships, Tokyo, Japan - 1st-Team, VT
2011 City of Jesolo Trophy, Jesolo, Italy - 1st-Team, AA, VT; 4th-FX; 5th-UB, BB(T)
2010 Pan American Championships, Guadalajara, Mexico - 1st-Team, VT, FX

Montag, Januar 02, 2012

USA Gymnastics enjoys great success in 2011

USA Gymnastics enjoys great success in 2011



INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 12, 2011 – The USA's top gymnasts enjoyed great international success in 2011, putting the United States in a good position heading into the Olympic year. Here's a brief look at the highlights from 2011.
  • The USA qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in men's and women's gymnastics and women's trampoline, based on performances at the 2011 World Championships. The United States will have the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in rhythmic gymnastics and men's trampoline at the 2012 Olympic Test Event.
  • At the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the United States won a total of seven medals, including four gold, and secured team berths to the 2012 Olympic Games in London for both men's and women's gymnastics. The women's team gold medal is the USA's first since 2007 and third overall. For the men, the team bronze medal is the first team medal since 2003. The individual gold medalists are: Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Geddert's Twistars USA, all-around; McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./All-Olympia Gymnastics, vault; and Danell Leyva of Miami/Universal Gymnastics, parallel bars.
  • At the World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships, the USA won three medals in addition to qualifying for women's trampoline at the Olympic Games. Austin White of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, earned the men's double mini-trampoline silver medal, and the USA won the team bronze medal in both men's and women's double mini-trampoline.
  • At the Pan American Games, the USA's gymnasts earned 18 gymnastics medals, including nine gold. The gold medalists were: women's team; women's all-around and uneven bars – Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite; women's vault – Brandy Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; still rings – Brandon Wynn of Voorhees, N.J./Team Hilton HHonors; horizontal bar – Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./University of Illinois; and rhythmic gymnastics all-around, ball and ribbon – Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Capital Rhythmics.
  • Kalon Ludvigson of Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution, won the USA's first World Cup series title for men's tumbling.
The top accomplishments for women's and men's gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and group gymnastics are outlined below, by discipline.
Women's Gymnastics
The U.S. women won a total of 40 medals in international competition in 2011, as of Dec. 11.
  • World Championships. The U.S. women captured the team gold medal, remaining the only country in the world to have won a team medal at every World Championships or Olympic Games where a team competition was contested since 2000. With this performance, the women qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
    • The U.S. women earned the team gold medal for the just the third time in history (2003, 2007, 2011), besting second-place Russia by more than five points. The American squad hit 24-for-24 routines and 12-for-12 during the qualification and team finals competition rounds, respectively. The members of the U.S. Team were: Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute; McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./All-Olympia Gymnastics; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics; Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics, Sabrina Vega of Carmel, N.Y./Dynamic Gymnastics; Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts' Twistars USA; and Anna Li of Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC, alternate.
    • Wieber became the sixth U.S. woman to claim the all-around gold medal. In addition, she earned the bronze medal on the balance beam.
    • Maroney won the gold medal on vault, the third consecutive American to take top honors on the event.
    • Raisman captured the floor exercise bronze medal and earned a fourth place all-around finish.
    • The team gold medal gave Sacramone her 10th career World medal, the highest number earned by a U.S. female gymnast.
  • Pan American Games. Team USA won five medals, including four gold, in Guadalajara, Mexico. The U.S. women's team won the team gold medal, its 12th in Pan American Games history.
    • The members of the gold medal team: Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC; Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute; Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp's Gymnastics Academy.
    • Caquatto won the women's all-around gold medal, continuing the USA's streak that dates back to the 1987 Pan American Games. She also won the uneven bars gold medal.
    • Jay earned the women's vault gold medal.
    • Johnson claimed the silver medal on the uneven bars.
  • AT&T American Cup. In her international debut as a senior level gymnast, Wieber claimed the AT&T American Cup all-around title in Jacksonville, Fla., while teammate Raisman won the bronze. This was Wieber's second American Cup title.
  • City of Jesolo Trophy. The USA won 20 medals for the juniors and seniors combined at the 2011 City of Jesolo (Italy) Trophy. The United States' success included both the junior and senior team gold medals and a sweep of the junior and senior all-around medals. Team USA's senior gold medalists were Maroney (all-around, vault); Caquatto (uneven bars); Raisman (balance beam, floor exercise). For the juniors, Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max Gymnastics (all-around, balance beam); Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics (vault); and Katelyn Ohashi of Plano, Texas/WOGA (floor exercise). The other senior women on the team were: Douglas, Amanda Jetter of Milford, Ohio, Cincinnati Gymnastics, Vega and Wieber. The junior team also included Ericha Fassbender of Katy, Texas/Stars Gymnastics; Sarah Finnegan of Lake Latawanna, Mo./GAGE; Madison Kocian of Dallas, Texas/WOGA; and Elizabeth Price of Coopersburg, Pa./Parkettes.
  • Junior Japan. Priessman and Amelia Hundley of Hamilton, Ohio, both with Cincinnati Gymnastics, finished first and second in the all-around, respectively, at the 2011 Japan Junior International in Yokohama, Japan. In the event finals, the duo combined for six medals, including Priessman's gold medals on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. Hundley earned silver medals on vault and floor and bronze on the uneven bars.

Nastia Liukin

Anastasia Liukin


Birthdate: 10/30/1989
Program: Women's Artistic
Level: Senior
Current Residence: Parker, TX
Club: WOGA Gymnastics
Head Coach: Valeri Liukin, Dina Kamalova,


Career Highlights

  • Won the all-around gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games
  • At the 2008 Olympic Games, Liukin tied the U.S. gymnastics record of five medals at one Olympic Games set by Mary Lou Retton in 1984 and matched by Shannon Miller in 1992.
  • Liukin's Olympic medal haul includes one gold (all-around), three silver (team, balance beam and uneven bars) and one bronze (floor exercise). She garnered the most medals of any gymnast at the 2008 Olympic Games.
  • Has won nine world medals (four gold and five silver), which ties Shannon Miller and Alicia Sacramone
  • A member of the 2007 World Championships Team that won the gold medal. Also won a gold medal on balance beam and a silver on uneven bars
  • A member of the 2006 World Championships Team that won the silver medal. Also won a silver medal on uneven bars
  • A member of the 2005 World Championships Team. She won gold medals on uneven bars and balance beam and silver medals in the all-around and on floor exercise
  • The 2005-06 U.S. all-around champion
  • Won four straight U.S. uneven bars titles - 2005-08
  • Won three U.S. balance beam titles - 2005-06, 2008
  • 2008 Women's Sports Foundation's individual Sportswoman of the Year
  • U.S. Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Month for August 2008
  • USA Gymnastics' Sportswoman of the Year in 2008
  • USA Gymnastics' Women's Athlete of the Year in 2005 and tied for the honor in 2006
  • Father and coach is Valeri Liukin, who won four medals, including two gold, at the 1988 Olympic Games
  • Monter is Anna Liukin, who was a 1987 rhythmic gymnastics world champion


Personal Information

Nickname: Nastia
Hometown: Parker, TX
Personal Website: www.nastialiukin.com
Twitter: @NastiaLiukin
Year you began gymnastics: 1993
Favorite Event: Beam
How did you get involved in gymnastics: My parents were both gymnasts and later coaches. I was always hanging around in the gym with them.
Favorite thing about gymnastics: Traveling, competing & representing the USA
What are your goals for gymnastics?: 2012 Olympics!!!
Names of parents/guardians: Valeri and Anna
Family members in sports: Dad won four medals at '88 Olympics including 2 gold. Mom was a 1987 rhythmic world champion

Interests Outside the Gym

Favorite music: Colbie Caillat, Taylor Swift, Ashley Tisdale, Kings of Leon
Favorite book(s): Twilight series
Favorite TV show(s): Gossip Girl
Favorite Food: Sushi
Charity Involvement: Dallas Morning News, Susan G Komen

National Competition Results

2009 Visa Championships, Dallas, Texas - 4th-BB
2009 CoverGirl Classic, Des Moines, Iowa - 2nd-BB
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, Philadelphia, Pa. - 1st-UB; 2nd-AA, FX(T); 3rd-BB; 5th-VT
2008 Visa Championships, Boston, Mass. - 1st-UB, BB; 2nd-AA; 8th-FX
2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif. - 1st-UB; 2nd-BB; 3rd-AA; 12th-FX
2006 Visa Championships, St. Paul, Minn. - 1st-AA, BB, UB; 7th-FX
2006 U.S. Classic, Kansas City, Kan. - 1st-BB; 4th-AA; 6th-UB; 9th-VT(T), FX
2005 Visa Championships, Indianapolis, Ind. - 1st-AA, UB, BB; 2nd-FX
2005 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 1st-AA, UB, BB; 2nd-FX; 4th-VT
2004 Visa Championships, Nashville, Tenn. - 1st-AA, UB, BB, FX; 4th-VT (Jr. Div.)
2004 American Classic, Ontario, Calif. - 1st-AA, BB, FX, UB (Jr. Div.)
2003 National Championships, Milwaukee, Wis. - 1st-AA, UB, BB, FX (Jr. Div.)
2003 U.S. Classic, San Antonio, Texas - 1st-AA, VT, UB, BB, FX (Jr. Div.)
2003 American Classic, Boston, Mass. - 1st-AA, FX; 2nd-UB (Jr. Div.)
2003 Podium Meet, Fairfax, Va. - 1st-AA, UB, BB, FX (Jr. Div.)
2002 U.S. Championships, Cleveland, Ohio - 5th-BB, FX (Jr. Div.)
2002 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 2nd-BB; 3rd-AA; 4th-FX, UB
2002 American Classic, Indianapolis, Ind. - 3rd-FX; 5th-BB
2002 Podium Meet, Orlando, Fla. - 5th-FX

International Competition Results

2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China - 1st-AA; 2nd-Team, UB, BB; 3rd-FX
2008 Tyson American Cup, New York, N.Y. - 1st-AA
2008 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, San Jose, Calif. - 1st-Team, AA, BB; 2nd-UB; 4th-FX(T)
2007 World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany - 1st-Team, BB; 2nd-UB; 5th-AA
2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 1st-Team; 2nd-UB, BB
2006 World Championships, Aarhus, Denmark - 2nd-Team, UB
2006 Tyson American Cup, Philadelphia, Pa. - 1st-AA
2006 Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii - 1st-Team, AA(T), UB; 2nd-BB
2005 World Championships, Melbourne, Australia - 1st-UB, BB; 2nd-AA, FX
2005 USA/SUI, Maggligen, Switzerland - 1st-Team, AA, UB, BB, FX; 2nd-VT
2005 USA/GBR, Lilleshall, Great Britain - 1st-Team, AA, BB, FX(T); 2nd-UB
2005 American Cup, Long Island, N.Y. - 1st-BB(T); 6th-UB
2004 Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii - 1st-Team, AA, UB, BB, FX (Jr. Div.)
2003 Pan American Games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - 1st-Team, BB; 2nd-AA; 3rd-UB, FX
2002 Junior Pan American Championships, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - 1st-Team; 2nd-AA, UB, BB
2002 USA/Canada, Houston, Texas - 1st-Team, 2nd-UB, FX; 3rd-AA, BB (Jr. Div.)
2002 USA/Japan Dual Meet, Houston, Texas - 1st-Team, AA, UB, BB, FX

Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson

Birthdate: 1/19/1992
Program: Women's Artistic
Level: Senior
Current Residence: West Des Moines, IA
Club: Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute
Head Coach: Liang Chow
Other Coaches: Liwen Zhuang


Career Highlights

  • 2011 Pan American Games team gold medalist and uneven bars silver medalist
  • Won four medals at the 2008 Olympics: Gold (balance beam) and silver (team, all-around and floor exercise).
  • Won three gold medals at the 2007 World Championships - team, all-around and floor exercise.
  • One of five U.S. women to win the world all-around crown, along with Kim Zmeskal (1991), Shannon Miller (1993-94), Chellsie Memmel (2005) and Bridget Sloan (2009).
  • 2008 U.S. all-around and floor exercise champion and balance beam silver medalist.
  • 2007 U.S. all-around, balance beam and floor exercise champion and uneven bars bronze medalist.
  • 2007 American Cup all-around champion.
  • Voted Iowa's most famous living sports figure by the "Des Moines Register" in 2010.
  • Won the 79th AAU James E. Sullivan Award in 2009.
  • Carried the torch during the torch run for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
  • 2009 "Dancing with the Stars" champion.
  • 2009 ESPY for Best U.S. Female Olympian.
  • 2008-09, 2011 Teen Choice's Female Athlete.


Personal Information

Nickname: SJ
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Personal Website: www.shawnjohnson.net/
Twitter: @ShawneyJ
Year you began gymnastics: 1995
Favorite Event: Balance Beam
How did you get involved in gymnastics: My mom says, "The wild child just needed something to do!"
Favorite thing about gymnastics: How it shapes you as a person and pushes you to your limit. It has taught me so much and opened up so many opportunities and career paths for me.
Names of parents/guardians: Doug and Teri Johnson
Names of sibling(s): Tori Bronson is my cousin but my sister at heart and is the best supporter ever!

Interests Outside the Gym

Favorite school subject: English
Hobbies or favorite activities: College football, shopping, hanging with friends and family
Favorite music: Country Music
Favorite book(s): You Go Girl
Favorite TV show(s): Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars
Favorite Food: Sushi and strawberries
Charity Involvement: Cancer, cancer research, March of Dimes, Girl Effect, ESPN Rise

National Competition Results

2011 Visa Championships, Saint Paul, Minn. - 4th-BB; 6th-UB
2011 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. -
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, Philadelphia, Pa. - 1st-AA, BB, FX; 2nd-VT; 4th-UB
2008 Visa Championships, Boston, Mass. - 1st-AA, FX; 2nd-BB; 5th-UB
2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif. - 1st-AA, BB, FX; 3rd-UB
2006 Visa Championships, St. Paul, Minn. - 1st-AA, VT, BB, FX; 2nd-UB (Jr. Div.)
2006 U.S. Classic, Kansas City, Kan. - 1st-AA; 2nd-VT, FX; 3rd-BB(T) (Jr. Div.)
2005 Visa Championships, Indianapolis, Ind. - 10th-AA; 4th-VT; 9th-UB (Jr. Div.)
2005 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 3rd-AA, BB
2004 Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 1st-BB; 2nd-FX; 4th-AA; 4th-VT

International Competition Results

2011 Pan American Games, Guadalajara, Mexico - 1st-Team; 2nd-UB
2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China - 1st-BB; 2nd-Team, AA, FX
2008 Italy-Spain-Poland-USA competition, Jesolo, Italy - 1st-Team, AA
2008 Tyson American Cup, New York, N.Y. - 2nd-AA
2007 World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany - 1st-Team, AA, FX; 8th-BB
2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 1st-Team, AA, UB, BB; 2nd-FX
2007 USA vs Great Britain International Competition, Lisburn, Ireland - 1st-Team, AA, BB; 2nd-VT
2007 Tyson American Cup, Jacksonville, Fla. - 1st-AA
2006 Junior Pan American Championships, Gatineau, Que., Canada - 1st-Team, BB, AA; 2nd-UB, FX (Jr. Div.)
2006 Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii - 1st-Team, AA, VT, FX; 2nd-BB (Jr. Div.)
2006 International Gymnix, Montreal, Que., Canada - 1st-FX; 2nd-VT, 3rd-AA; 5th-UB
2006 USA/Japan/New Zealand Competition, Houston, Texas - 1st-AA, VT, BB; 2nd-FX; 3rd-UB
2005 Top Gym Competition, Charleroi, Belgium - 1st-AA, VT, FX

Sonntag, Januar 01, 2012

Chellsie Memmel

Chellsie Memmel


Birthdate: 6/23/1988
Program: Women's Artistic
Level: Senior
Current Residence: West Allis, WI
Club: M and M Gymnastics
Head Coach: Andy Memmel


Career Highlights

  • 2008 Olympic team silver medalist
  • 2005 World all-around champion. She became the first U.S. woman to win all-around gold since Shannon Miller in 1994.
  • 2005 World uneven bars and balance beam silver medalist
  • 2003 World team and uneven bars (tie with Hollie Vise) gold medalist
  • 2006 World team silver medalist
  • 2003 Pan American Games team, all-around and uneven bars gold medalist and balance beam bronze medalist
  • 2003 TOPs Co-Athlete of the Year


Personal Information

Hometown: West Allis, WI
Twitter: @CMemmel
Name of High School: West Allis Central High School
Year you began gymnastics: 1989
Favorite Event: Bars
Names of parents/guardians: Andrew and Jeanelle
Names of sibling(s): Mara and Skyler
Family members in sports: Both of my parents were gymnasts and received full athletic collegiate scholarships.

National Competition Results

2011 Visa Championships, Saint Paul, Minn. - 2nd-BB; 6th-FX; 8th-AA
2011 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 2nd-AA; 4th-FX; 5th-VT(T), BB; 6th-UB
2009 Visa Championships, Dallas, Texas - 8th-BB(T)
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, Philadelphia, Pa. - 2nd-UB, BB, FX(T); 3rd-AA; 15th-VT
2008 Visa Championships, Boston, Mass. - 2nd-UB; 3rd-AA; 4th-BB, FX
2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif. -
2007 U.S. Classic, Battle Creek, Mich. - 5th-VT
2006 Visa Championships, St. Paul, Minn. - 3rd-FX; 4th-AA, BB; 5th-UB
2005 Visa Championships, Indianapolis, Ind. - 2nd-AA, UB, BB; 3rd-FX
2005 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 2nd-BB; 3rd-UB; 4th-AA; 7th-VT
2003 National Championships, Milwaukee, Wis. - 6th-BB; 7th-UB; 10th-AA
2003 American Classic, Boston, Mass. - 1st-UB, BB; 3rd-AA
2003 Podium Meet, Fairfax, Va. - 2nd-FX; 3rd-AA; 5th-VT, UB (Jr. Div.)
2002 USA/Mexico Friendship Competition, Houston, Texas - 1st-Team; 2nd-FX; 3rd-AA
2002 U.S. Championships, Cleveland, Ohio - 2nd-FX; 3rd-AA, BB; 5th-UB (Jr. Div.)
2002 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 3rd-BB, FX; 4th-AA; 9th-UB (Jr. Div.)
2002 American Classic, Indianapolis, Ind. - 4th-BB; 8th-FX; 10th-AA (Jr. Div.)
2002 Podium Meet, Orlando, Fla. - 4th-FX; 9th-BB
2000 John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships, St. Louis, Mo. - 6th-FX
2000 American Classic, Reno, Nev. - 7th-AA
1999 Gymnastics Festival, Rochester, N.Y. - 1st-AA, UB, BB; 4th-FX
1999 American Challenge, Pomona, Calif. - 1st-AA, VT, UB, BB; 2nd-FX

International Competition Results

2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China - 2nd-Team
2008 Friendship International Exchange, Huntsville, Texas - 1st-UB; 3rd-AA; 5th-BB
2007 Toyota Cup, Toyota City, Japan - 1st-FX; 2nd-BB
2007 Good Luck Beijing International Tournament, Beijing, China - 3rd-BB, FX; 5th-AA
2006 World Championships, Aarhus, Denmark - 2nd-Team
2006 Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii - 1st-Team, AA(t), BB; 2nd-FX
2005 World Championships, Melbourne, Australia - 1st-AA; 2nd-UB, BB
2005 Pan American Championships, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 1st-Team, AA, UB, BB
2005 USA/GBR, Lilleshall, Great Britain - 1st-Team, UB
2005 USA/SUI, Maggligen, Switzerland - 1st-Team, VT; 2nd-UB; 3rd-BB
2005 American Cup, Long Island, N.Y. - 1st-UB; 3rd-BB
2004 World Cup Final, Birmingham, Great Britain - 1st-UB
2004 Pan American Individual Event Championships, Maracaibo, Venezuela - 1st-UB, BB
2004 Visa American Cup, New York, N.Y. - 2nd-UB; 3rd-AA, BB
2003 World Championships, Anaheim, Calif. - 1st-Team, UB; 6th-BB; 8th-AA
2003 Pan American Games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - 1st-Team, AA, UB; 3rd-BB
2003 Pacific Challenge (USA/CAN/AUS), Fullerton, Calif. - 1st-Team, UB
2002 International Gymnastics Tournament, Curitiba, Brazil - 1st-Team; 3rd-UB
2002 USA/Belgium, Houston, Texas - 1st-Team, AA, UB, FX; 2nd-BB; 3rd-VT
2002 Pacific Alliance Championships, Vancouver, B.C., Canada - Junior Team Alternate (Jr. Div.)
2000 USA vs. France, St. Etienne, France - 1st-Team; 2nd-AA
2000 Puerto Rico Cup, San Juan, Puerto Rico - 1st-AA, BB, FX; 2nd-UB

Alicia Sacramone

Alicia Sacramone

Birthdate: 12/3/1987
Program: Women's Artistic
Level: Senior
Current Residence: Winchester, MA
Club: Brestyan's American Gymnastics
Head Coach: Mihai Brestyan


Career Highlights

  • 2011 World Championships Team gold medalist
  • 2010 World Championships vault champion and team silver medalist.
  • Ten World medals (four gold, four silver and two bronze); the most World medals by an American gymnast.
  • 2008 Olympic Team silver medalist.
  • 2007 World team gold medalist, floor exercise silver medalist and vault bronze medalist.
  • 2006 World team and vault silver medalist
  • 2005 World floor exercise gold medalist and vault bronze medalist.
  • Has five U.S. vault titles (2005-08, 2010), the most in U.S. women's history. Two U.S. floor exercise crowns (2005-06).
  • 2011 U.S. balance beam champion
  • USA Gymnastics' Sportswoman of the Year three times (2005-07).
  • Scored a 9.9 on floor exercise at the 2005 Visa Championships, the first time a score of 9.9 or better had been awarded in the women's division at a U.S. Nationals since 1996.
  • In 2004, qualified for the World Cup Final as a wild card and won the vault gold medal.
  • Competed on the Brown University gymnastics team during her freshman year and set school records in the all-around, vault and became the first gymnast to win all five events at the Ivy League Classic. Alicia is currently sponsored by Visa.


Personal Information

Hometown: Winchester, MA
Personal Website: www.aliciasacramoneusa.com/
Twitter: @ASac03
Name of College: Brown University
Names of parents/guardians: Fred and Gail
Names of sibling(s): One older brother-Jonathan

National Competition Results

2011 Visa Championships, Saint Paul, Minn. - 1st-BB; 2nd-VT; 8th-FX(T)
2011 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 1st-VT(T), BB(T); 3rd-FX
2010 Visa Championships, Hartford, Conn. - 1st-VT; 2nd-BB
2010 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 1st-VT, BB
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, Philadelphia, Pa. - 1st-VT; 5th-BB, FX
2008 Visa Championships, Boston, Mass. - 1st-VT; 2nd-FX; 3rd-BB
2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif. - 1st-VT; 3rd-BB, FX
2007 U.S. Classic, Battle Creek, Mich. - 1st-VT, BB, FX
2006 Visa Championships, St. Paul, Minn. - 1st-VT, FX(T); 5th-AA; 6th-BB; 8th-UB
2006 U.S. Classic, Kansas City, Kan. - 1st-VT, FX; 2nd-BB; 3rd-AA
2005 Visa Championships, Indianapolis, Ind. - 1st-VT, FX; 3rd-BB; 4th-AA
2005 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 1st-FX; 3rd-AA, VT; 4th-BB
2004 Visa Championships, Nashville, Tenn. - 2nd-VT
2004 American Classic, Ontario, Calif. - 1st-FX; 4th-AA; 5th-VT, BB
2004 Podium Meet, New York, N.Y. - 1st-Team, VT, FX; 2nd-AA, BB
2003 National Championships, Milwaukee, Wis. - 3rd-FX; 4th-VT
2003 U.S. Classic, San Antonio, Texas - 7th-VT
2003 American Classic, Boston, Mass. - 4th-BB; 10th-AA
2002 U.S. Championships, Cleveland, Ohio - 7th-BB (Jr. Div.)
2002 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. - 5th-BB; 6th-VT; 7th-AA

International Competition Results

2011 World Championships, Tokyo, Japan - 1st-Team
2010 World Championships, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 1st-VT; 2nd-Team; 5th-BB
2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China - 2nd-Team; 4th-VT
2008 Friendship International Exchange, Huntsville, Texas - 1st-BB, FX
2007 World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany - 1st-Team; 2nd-FX; 3rd-VT
2006 World Championships, Aarhus, Denmark - 2nd-Team, VT
2006 World Cup, Ghent, Belgium - 2nd-VT
2005 World Championships, Melbourne, Australia - 1st-FX; 3rd-VT
2005 Pan American Championships, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 1st-Team, VT, FX; 5th-AA
2005 World Cup, Ghent, Belgium - 1st-VT, FX
2005 World Cup, Paris, France - 1st-VT; 6th-FX
2005 USA/GBR, Lilleshall, Great Britain - 1st-Team, VT, FX(T); 2nd-BB
2005 American Cup, Long Island, N.Y. - 1st-VT; 2nd-FX
2004 World Cup Final, Birmingham, Great Britain - 1st-VT
2004 World Cup, Ghent, Belgium - 2nd-VT; 4th-FX
2004 Pan American Individual Event Championships, Maracaibo, Venezuela - 1st-VT, FX
2004 Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii - 1st-Team, VT
2003 Massilla Gym Cup, Marseille, France - 4th-FX; 9th-VT
2002 USA/Japan Dual Meet, Houston, Texas - 1st-Team

Bridget Sloan

Bridget Sloan

Birthdate: 6/23/1992
Program: Women's Artistic
Level: Senior
Current Residence: Pittsboro, IN
Club: Sharp's Gymnastics Academy
Head Coach: Marvin Sharp


Career Highlights

  • 2011 Pan American Games team gold medalist
  • 2009 World all-around champion.
  • 2008 Olympic team silver medalist.
  • 2009 U.S. all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise champion.
  • Alternate for the 2007 World Championships Team that won a gold medal.


Personal Information

Hometown: Pittsboro, IN
Twitter: @bridgetsloan
High School Graduation Year: 2011
Name of College: plans to attend Univ. of Florida
Year you began gymnastics: 1996
Favorite Event: Beam, Floor
How did you get involved in gymnastics: I was very active as a young child, so my parents signed me up in order to channel my energy.
Favorite thing about gymnastics: My favorite parts about gymnastics are going to different places and learning new skills.
Names of parents/guardians: Jeff and Mary
Names of sibling(s): Kyle Kassie Nathan
Family members in sports: All of my siblings participate in various high school sports. My father coaches high school soccer.

Interests Outside the Gym

Favorite school subject: science
Favorite music: Pretty much anything
Favorite Food: Chinese food

National Competition Results

2010 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 2nd-BB; 4th-UB
2009 Visa Championships, Dallas, Texas - 1st-AA, UB, FX; 5th-BB
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, Philadelphia, Pa. - 8th-UB; 12th-BB; 14th-FX
2008 Visa Championships, Boston, Mass. - 3rd-UB; 7th-BB
2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif. - 2nd-FX; 5th-AA, UB; 10th-BB
2007 U.S. Classic, Battle Creek, Mich. - 1st-AA; 2nd-UB; 3rd-VT, BB, FX(T)
2006 Visa Championships, St. Paul, Minn. - 3rd-BB(T); 4th-VT, UB (Jr. Div.)
2005 Visa Championships, Indianapolis, Ind. - 9th-VT; 14th-AA (Jr. Div.)
2005 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va. -
2004 American Classic, Ontario, Calif. -
2003 U.S. Challenge, San Antonio, Texas - 2nd-UB; 5th-AA
2003 American Challenge, Boston, Mass. -

International Competition Results

2011 Pan American Games, Guadalajara, Mexico - 1st-Team
2010 World Championships, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 2nd-Team; 4th-UB
2010 Pacific Rim Championships, Melbourne, Australia - 1st-Team
2009 World Championships, London, England - 1st-AA; 6th-UB
2009 USA-France Friendly Exchange, Rouen, France - 1st-Team, AA
2009 USA-Germany Friendly Exchange, Muelheim, Germany - 1st-Team, AA
2009 Tyson American Cup, Hoffman Estates, Ill. - 2nd-AA
2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China - 2nd-Team
2008 Italy-Spain-Poland-USA competition, Jesolo, Italy - 1st-Team
2007 Toyota Cup, Toyota City, Japan - 3rd-UB, FX
2007 Good Luck Beijing International Tournament, Beijing, China - 2nd-FX; 3rd-AA; 4th-BB; 7th-UB
2007 World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany - 1st-Team (reserve athlete)
2007 USA vs Great Britain International Competition, Lisburn, Ireland - 1st-Team; 3rd-FX; 6th-AA
2007 Houston International Invitational, Houston, Texas - 3rd-AA
2006 International Gymnix, Montreal, Que., Canada - 2nd-AA, BB; 3rd-VT (Jr. Div.)

Samstag, Dezember 31, 2011

Dienstag, Dezember 27, 2011

Jenelle Evans Drives Kieffer Delp To Jail To Turn Himself In




Last week on Teen Mom 2 Jenelle Evans pressed charges against Kieffer Delp after a shocking fight got violent. In a sneak preview from MTV, Jenelle takes Kieffer to turn himself in — but he tries to make her feel guilty about it!

“It was wrong what I did, but I don’t deserve to be in jail,” he whines. Jenelle doesn’t have much sympathy for him, but Kieffer does everything he can to make her feel guilty. “If I get locked up, I don’t want no letters from you.”
But as much as he tries to get out of it, Jenelle still takes him to jail.

Samstag, Oktober 15, 2011

McKayla Maroney wins vault gold medal for U.S.

McKayla Maroney, a 15-year-old from Laguna Hills and a first-year competitor for the United States at the senior level of gymnastics, won her second gold medal at the world championships in Tokyo on Friday night.




After helping the United States women win the team gold medal earlier in the week, Maroney won individual gold in the vault event final.



Maroney's two vaults averaged a score of 15.3 and gave her a solid win over silver medalist Oksana Chusovitina, a 36-year-old from Germany, who won the silver medal. Thi Ha Thanh Phan of Vietnam won the bronze.



"I was really calm," Maroney said by telephone from Tokyo after the medal celebration. "I didn't worry, I just felt really good going out there."



Maroney said she didn't cry during the medal ceremony but she said her U.S. teammates gave her a hard time. "They said I wasn't smiling," she said. "I think I was smiling. I felt like I was smiling. I don't know, it is just so great."



Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, said the international judges made a point of praising Maroney's skills and form on her vaults, both in the individual event final and during team preliminaries and finals. "She was really electrifying," Penny said, "not only impressing the people in the crowd but for the judges. Members of the technical committee said they were impressed by every one of her vaults."



It is the third year in a row an American has won the world championship vault gold medal. Alicia Sacramone, who tore her Achilles' tendon while training in Japan on Oct. 6, won last year and Kayla Williams won two years ago.



Sacramone, who flew home to Massachusetts to have surgery, congratulated Maroney via Twitter.



"So proud you kept it in the country! thats my girl!" Sacramone tweeted.

Donnerstag, Oktober 13, 2011

2011 Gymnastics Worlds: Women's All-Around

Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt won the women’s all-around gold medal this morning at the world gymnastics championships in Tokyo.

Russian Viktoria Komova, who held the lead going into the final apparatus – the floor exercise – took the silver medal after making several costly mistakes in her routine.

Wieber scored 59.382 total points to Komova’s 59.349.

China’s Jinnan Yao won the bronze medal (58.598), just ahead of Wieber’s USA teammate Aly Raisman (57.558).


Wieber, who’s a high school junior at DeWitt High, is coached by John and Kathryn Geddert of Twistars USA in Dimondale. John Geddert is serving as the Americans’ world team coach.


“Two dreams came true today – her being a world champion, and me coaching one,” Geddert said by phone from Tokyo immediately after the event.



Mittwoch, Oktober 12, 2011

Alicia Sacramone

Alicia Sacramone says on Twitter that the surgery "went well." It was performed by Dr. Robert B. Anderson, a past president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and team doctor for the Carolina Panthers. A timetable for her recovery isn't known. U.S. men's team member John Orozco finished second in qualifying at the world gymnastics championships 14 months after blowing out his Achilles'.

The London Olympics begin in less than 10 months.

Dienstag, Oktober 11, 2011

Alicia Sacramone's new vault - Front handspring double twist

Nastia Liukin announces gymnastics comeback

2008 Olympic all-around Champion Nastia Liukin Tweeted today, "Let the journey officially begin." USA Gymnastics confirmed that the Tweet means Liukin is training again to make a run for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Liukin, who won five medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, says she will concentrate on the uneven bars and balance beam, but most likely will not compete in the all-around. She will begin two-a-day training sessions when she returns to Dallas from the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where she has official responsibilities with the International Gymnastics Federation.

Gold for US Girls!

TOKYO, Oct. 12, 2011 - The U.S. women's team hit all 12 of their routines to win the 2011 World Championships team title Tuesday at the Tokyo (Japan) Metropolitan Gymnasium. Full recap coming soon.

Unofficial Results
1. USA - 179.411
2. Russia - 175.329
3. China - 172.820
4. Romania - 172.412
5. Great Britain - 169.670
6. Germany - 168.479
7. Japan - 167.122
8. Australia - 166.439

U.S. Individual Scores

Vault
McKayla Maroney - 16.033
Jordyn Wieber - 15.833
Aly Raisman - 14.950

Uneven Bars
Jordyn Wieber - 14.766
Gabrielle Douglas - 14.733
Sabrina Vega - 14.366

Balance Beam
Jordyn Wieber - 15.033
Aly Raisman - 14.866
Sabrina Vega - 14.833

Floor Exercise
Jordyn Wieber - 14.766
Aly Raisman - 14.666
McKayla Maroney - 14.566

NYLON TV + LIZZIE OLSEN

Samstag, Oktober 08, 2011

Alicia Sacramone injured!

Alicia Sacramone injured, to miss gymnastics world championships
October 6, 2011 | 11:14 am 09
U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone, the defending world vault champion and a returning Olympic medalist, injured her Achilles tendon during a training session in Tokyo on Wednesday and won't be in the lineup when the U.S. begins competition Saturday at the world championships there.

The Americans are aiming for a top-eight finish in the team competition, which would assure them a spot in the 2012 Olympics.

Sacramone was the only returning Olympian sent to Tokyo who also was a member of the 2008 team that brought home the silver medal. Three other members of that team -- Shawn Johnson, Bridget Sloan and Chellsie Memmel -- are part of the U.S. squad that will compete in the Pan-American Games in Mexico later this month.

Competing for the U.S. in Tokyo will be, on vault, Sabrina Vega, Gabrielle Douglas, Alexandra Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney of Laguna Hills; on uneven bars: Raisman, Maroney, Vega, Wieber, Douglas; on balance beam, Maroney, Vega, Raisman, Wieber, Douglas; and on floor exercise, Douglas, Vega, Wieber, Maroney and Raisman.

Former UCLA gymnast Anna Li, an uneven bars specialist who was a surprise pick for the team because of her swinging skills, is also out of the competition because of an abdominal injury, leaving the U.S. thin on that apparatus. In the qualifying round, five gymnasts compete on each apparatus with the top four scores counting. In the finals only three gymnasts compete and all three scores count.
Johnson, the 2008 all-around silver medalist who also won team and floor exercise silver and balance beam gold, was designated as an alternate for the team competing in Japan. But because Sacramone's and Li's injuries occurred after the team had already arrived in Tokyo, it was too late for Johnson to travel to the competition. Johnson is less than a year into her comeback from retirement after the 2008 Olympics.

It will be an inexperienced team now that tries to earn the U.S. its Olympic spot. Maroney, just 15, Vega and Douglas, who trains with Johnson in Iowa, are all first-year senior-level gymnasts.

Donnerstag, September 29, 2011

Katie Herzig - Free My Mind - (Official Video)

Hula Hoop

Fish Feet

majikfaerie: ¿Hablas español?

majikfaerie: ¿Hablas español?: ¡Hola! Littletree has been loving the homeschool Spanish-language group that started in our village :) Since Spanish was essentially her f...

Song about a heart transplant

skyscraper- Demi Lovato cover

majikfaerie: Shana Tovah

majikfaerie: Shana Tovah: Littletree’s Shana Tovah greeting Happy Jewish New Year :) Littletree’s been brushing up on her Hebrew…

Freitag, Dezember 03, 2010

Samstag, Oktober 23, 2010

Alicia Sacramone wins world vault title!!!!

Alicia Sacramone wins world vault title, Congratulations Alicia!!


Alicia Sacramone came out of retirement to win the gold medal in the vault at the world championships, edging all-around champion Aliya Mustafina.

Result:



1. Alicia Sacramone (USA) 15,200
2. Aliya Mustafina (Russ) 15,066
3. Jade Barbosa (Br) 14,799

4. Ariella Kaeslin (Sz) 14,783.

Sonntag, August 17, 2008

VT Final

1 Un Jong HONG North Korea 15.650
2 CHUSOVITINA Oksana Germany 15.575
3 Fei CHENG China 15.562

4 SACRAMONE Alicia USA 15.537
5 KASLIN Ariella Switzerland 15.050
6 GIOVANNINI Carlotta Italia 14.550
7 BARBOSA Jade Brazil 14.487
8 PAVLOVA Anna Russia 7.812

Mittwoch, August 13, 2008

USA women win silver medal in team finals!!

G - China - 188.900
S - USA - 186.525
B - Romania - 181.525
4. Russia - 180.625
5. Japan - 176.799
6. Australia - 176.525
7. France - 175.275
8. Brazil - 174.875


Vault
Bridget Sloan - 15.200
Shawn Johnson - 16.000
Alicia Sacramone - 15.675
TOTAL - 46.875

Uneven Bars

Chellsie Memmel - 15.725
Shawn Johnson - 15.350
Nastia Liukin - 16.900
TOTAL - 47.975

Balance Beam

Alicia Sacramone - 15.100
Nastia Liukin - 15.975
Shawn Johnson - 16.175
TOTAL - 47.250

Floor Exercise

Alicia Sacramone - 14.125
Nastia Liukin - 15.200
Shawn Johnson - 15.100
TOTAL - 44.425

Montag, August 11, 2008

Finals Vault

VAULT
1. Fei Cheng - China - 15.912
2. Un Jong Hong - North Korea - 15.725
3. Alicia Sacramone - USA - 15.625
4. Oksana Chusovitina - Germany - 15.525
5. Anna Pavlova - Russia - 15.275
6. Carlotta Giovannini - Italy - 15.137
7. Jade Barbosa - Brazil - 15.050
8. Ariella Kaslin - Switzerland - 14.975
R - Anastasia Marachkouskaya - Belarus - 14.787
R - Nansy Damianova - Canada - 14.062
R - Maricela Cantu Mata - Mexico - 13.925

Sonntag, Juli 20, 2008

USA Gymnastics finalizes 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics

USA Gymnastics finalizes 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics


Nastia Liukin
Shawn Johnson
Chellsie Memmel
Samantha Peszek
Alicia Sacramone
Bridget Sloan

The three replacement athletes are:

Jana Bieger
Ivana Hong
Corrie Lothrop

Good luck girls!!!