Three world champions headline the women’s field for 2006 Visa Championships

World All Around Champion Chellsie Memmel

World champions Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, and Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., are among the 56 female gymnasts competing in the women’s competition at the 2006 Visa Championships which takes place from August 16-19, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., where the U.S. champions for artistic and rhythmic gymnastics will be crowned.

Also in the women’s competition are Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek, Fla., a member of the 2005 World Championships Team; Natasha Kelley of Katy, Texas, and Ashley Priess of Hamilton, Ohio, the co-all-around titlists at the 2006 U.S. Classic; and Shawn Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa, who won the junior all-around title at the U.S. Classic.

At the 2005 World Championships, Memmel became the first U.S. woman to win the all-around title since 1994. Liukin, who finished second in the all-around at just 0.001 behind Memmel, is the uneven bars and balance beam world champion, as well as the defending all-around champion at the Visa Championships. Liukin, who won the 2006 Tyson American Cup, tied with Memmel for the all-around title at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships.

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Sacramone is the world floor exercise champion. Bieger won gold medals on floor and vault at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships and the vault title at the World Cup event in Cottbus, Germany. Both Kelley and Priess are competing as first-year seniors. Kelley, the 2005 U.S. junior all-around champion, claimed a bronze medal at the World Cup event in Moscow earlier this year. Priess won the balance beam and was second on the uneven bars at the World Cup event in Lyon. Johnson won the junior all-around gold medal at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships.

The Visa Championships is USA Gymnastics’ annual national championships and determines the U.S. national champions for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. Artistic gymnastics will be held at the Xcel Energy Center. Rhythmic gymnastics and acrobatic gymnastics are set for the Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Acrobatic gymnastics is holding its national team trials in conjunction with the Visa Championships. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show will be held in the adjacent Saint Paul RiverCentre complex.

Tickets for men's and women's artistic and rhythmic/acrobatic gymnastics sessions for the premier national gymnastics championships are on sale at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at (651) 989-5151 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For group ticket information, call (651) 312-3486. Visa is the only card accepted for the Visa Championships.

Content removed - Ken Summerfield 25th August, 2008

Women’s field for the 2006 Visa Championships

Info is listed by state; name, hometown/club, division

California

Ivana Hong, Laguna Hills, Calif./GAGE, junior division

Mattie Larson, Los Angeles, Calif./All Olympia, junior division

Katelyn Mohr, Lincoln, Calif./Byers, junior division

Sarie Morrison, Pacifica, Calif./Metroplex, junior division

Shantessa Pama, Dana Point, Calif./Gym Max, junior division

Samantha Shapiro, Los Angeles, Calif./All Olympia, junior division

Ashley Stott, Temecula, Calif./SCEGA, junior division

Florida

Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla./Boca , senior division

Kassi Price, Plantation, Fla./Orlando Metro, senior division

Madison Turchin, Orlando, Fla./Brandy Johnson, junior division

Shayla Worley, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro, senior division

Georgia

Taylor Schick, Duluth, Ga./Gwinnett, junior division

Michelle Shealy, Snellville, Ga./Gwinnett, junior division

Hawaii

Randi Lau, Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaiian Island Twisters, junior division

Indiana

Samantha Peszek, McCordsville, Ind./DeVeau's, junior division

Shelby Salmon, Noblesville, Ind./DeVeau's, junior division

Bridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp's, junior division

Iowa

Shawn Johnson, Des Moines, Iowa/Chow's, junior division

Kansas

Rachel Updike, Overland Park, Kan./GAGE, junior division

Sarah DeMeo, Overland Park, Kan./GAGE, junior division

Louisiana

Reaghen Courville, Baton Rouge, La./Elite, junior division

Massachusetts

Petra Matthies, Mills, Mass./Brestyan, junior division

Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass./Brestyan, senior division

Monica Shoji, Boston, Mass./Cincinnati Gymnastics, senior division

Maryland

Kytra Hunter, Frederick, Md./Hill's, junior division

Corrie Lothrop, Gaithersburg, Md./Hill's, junior division

Michigan

Rebecca Bross, Ann Arbor, Mich./WOGA, junior division

Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts, junior division

Missouri

Erica Smith, Independence, Mo./GAGE, junior division

North Carolina

Kimberly Jacob, Raleigh, N.C./Gymcarolina, junior division

New Jersey

Amy Borsellino, Boonton, N.J./North Stars, junior division

Darlene Hill, Mt. Laurel, N.J./Will-Moor, senior division

Kayla Hoffman, Union, N.J./Rebound, senior division

Ohio

Bianca Flohr, Creston, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, junior division

Jacquelyn Johnson, Westchester, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, senior division

Hilary Mauro, Westchester, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, senior division

Ashley Priess, Hamilton, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, senior division

Hannah Toussaint, Warren, Ohio/Olympic Dreams, junior division

Cassie Whitcomb, Cincinatti, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, junior division

Oklahoma

Cortni Beers, Tulsa, Okla./Krafft Academy, senior division

Rachel York, Broken Arrow, Okla./Krafft Academy, junior division

Pennsylvania

Geralen Stack-Eaton, Horsham, Pa./Parkettes, senior division

Amber Trani, Richland, Pa./Parkettes, senior division

Texas

Chelsea Davis, Lakeway, Texas/Texas Dreams, junior division

Liz Green, Coppell, Texas/Texas Dreams, junior division

Alaina Johnson, Tyler, Texas/Texas East, senior division

Natasha Kelley, Katy, Texas/Stars Houston, senior division

Nastia Liukin, Parker, Texas/WOGA, senior division

Catherine Nguyen, Plano, Texas/WOGA, junior division

Christine Nguyen, Plano, Texas/WOGA, senior division

Christa Tanella, Lucas, Texas/WOGA, junior division

Virginia

Olivia Courtney, Burke, Va./Capital GNTC, junior division

Morgan Evans, Norfolk, Va./Excalibur, senior division

Brittany Ranzy, Virginia Beach, Va./Hill's, senior division

Randi Stageberg, Chesapeake, Va./Excalibur, senior division

Wisconsin

Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis./M&M, senior division

CLICK HERE TO SEE DETAILS OF THE MALE GYMNASTS COMPETING AT THE VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS, TODD THORNTON, DAVID DURANTE & JONATHAN HORTON ALL SET TO GO!

VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM JUST $15 FOR SINGLE SESSION WOMEN’S QUALIFYING EVENTS! 

Ticket Prices

Single-Session Artistic tickets
Wednesday, August 16th
1:00 PM - Jr. Men All-Around & Individual Events: $15
7:00 PM - Sr. Men All-Around & Individual Events - Day 1: $10, $15, $25

Thursday, August 17th
1:00 PM - Jr. Women All-Around & Individual Events - Day 1: $20
7:00 PM - Sr. Women All-Around & Individual Events - Day 1: $15, $25, $35

Friday, August 18th
7:00 PM - Sr. Men All-Around & Individual Events - Day 2: $15, $25, $35

Saturday, August 19th
1:00 PM - Jr. Women All-Around & Individual Events - Day 2: $20
6:00 PM - Sr. Women All-Around & Indiv. Events - Day 2: $19.50, $30, $45

Single-Session Rhythmic/Acrobatic Gymnastics tickets
Thursday - $15, Friday - $15, Saturday - $20

All-Session Artistic Packages: $90, $125, $175 and $250
All-Session Rhythmic/Acrobatic Gymnastics Packages: $40

Call (651) 312-3486 For Group Ticket Information
* A $1.75 facility fee will be added and online service charges may apply.

See Schedule

Seating Map
To view the arena diagram with apparatus locations, please click here.

Tickets may be purchased as follows:

Online: www.ticketmaster.com

• Charge by phone: (651) 989-5151
• Visit: Xcel Energy Center Box Office
  Call (651) 989-5151, go online to www.ticketmaster.com
  or visit the Xcel Energy Center Box Office.
• For Group tickets call (651) 312-3486

Content removed - Ken Summerfield 25th August, 2008

Field set for men’s competition at 2006 Visa Championships

Todd Thornton, Jonathan Horton and David Durante set for the 2006 Visa Championships. Photos copyright of USA Gymnastics.

Todd Thornton, the 2005 U.S. all-around champion at the Visa Championships will defend his Title against top U.S. Gymnasts including Jonathan Horton the 2006 Tyson American Cup champ and 5th in the AA at the 2005 Visa Championships. David Durante the bronze medalist in the All Around at the 2005 Visa Championships will also compete, as 81 male gymnasts head for the 2006 Visa Championships from August 16-19th at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Thornton, who is a member of Team Chevron, is looking to defend his title. Horton, who competes for the University of Oklahoma, has had a solid 2006 so far. He won the NCAA all-around title, as well as placing second in the all-around at the France/Switzerland/USA tri-country meet. Durante, who is also a member of Team Chevron and trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, was third in the all-around at the France/Switzerland/USA three-country meet and tied for third on the parallel bars at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships.

In addition to Horton and Durante, the field includes several other gymnasts who have competed internationally this year: Sean Golden of Team Chevron, second on vault at the World Cup event in Moscow and a member of the 2005 World Championships Team; David Sender of Stanford University, who competed at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships; and Justin Spring of Team Chevron, who made it to the finals in the horizontal and parallel bars at the World Cup event in Ghent, and a member of the 2005 World Championships Team. Raj Bhavsar of Houston /Team Chevron, the alternate for the men’s team for the 2004 Olympic Games, is also in the field..

US Gymnastics celebrate Dream Team’s 10th Anniversary of the 1996 Olympic women’s team Gold Medal in Atlanta

Great Videos of Dominique, Shannon & Kerri!

Can you believe it’s been 10 years since that spectacular night when the Magnificent 7 made history at the 1996 summer Olympic games in Atlanta?

On Saturday August 19th on the final night of the Women’s Competition at the Visa Championships, USA Gymnastics will celebrate the 10th anniversary of that unforgettable performance as the USA Women’s Team won Olympic Gold.

In 1996 the U.S Women’s Team catapulted their way into the record books through perseverance, pain and determination. Dubbed the Magnificent 7, Amanda Bawden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug performed outstandingly as they fought back to overtake Russia. They knew what they were there to do and they were going to achieve it, especially in that incredible Georgia Dome atmosphere!

The lasting memory of the Games will always be the moment that Kerri Strug stepped up to perform her final vault as she  had faltered on the first and injured herself. This was her chance, the Olympic Gold was within reach. Kerri had her whole country behind her as she stepped up. Millions held their breath as Kerri saluted to the judges, could she stick it? With the weight of a nation on her shoulders she showed a determination like no other, and vaulted her way to give a performance of a lifetime! As Kerri stuck the landing on one foot, the roof of the Georgia dome nearly came off as the crowd erupted with cheers and delight. But she knelt down and tried crawling off the mat, and the crowd’s deafening cheers fell silent, Kerri was hurt. As Kerri was carried away the score was announced, she had done it! The USA Team had won the Olympic Gold and the crowd erupted once more! The girls hugged each other with tears of joy, their final total was 389.225 outscoring Russia and Romania.

The drama of the evening continued as the Mag 7 stepped up to claim their medal, Kerri was carried out by her legendary coach Bela Karoyli and she stood proudly on the podium surrounded by her team mates. As the national anthem of the U.S played, Kerri had tears in her eyes, this was her moment to shine.

They would be remembered forever as the Magnificent 7 who captured Olympic Gold on that magical night in the summer of Atlanta 96. And now you can see some of those unforgettable performances once more ---!

Dominique Moceanu at the Atlanta 96 Olympic Games. All photos are copyright.

BRING BACK THOSE FANTASTIC MAG 7 MEMORIES FROM ATLANTA WITH THESE GREAT VIDEOS FROM SHANFAN!

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR FAVOURITE VIDEO OF KERRI STRUG

CLICK HERE FOR DOMINIQUE MOCEANU CAREER HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

AND HERE FOR SHANNON MILLER FROM THE MAG SEVEN WINNING OLYMPIC GOLD!

All videos are copyright of Shanfan and must not be copied or reproduced in any way without permission.

WORLD ARTISTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS DRAW IS MADE

The draw for the 2006 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics in Aarhus, Denmark, 13-21 October, has been officially announced by the FIG. This will be one of the most intriguing events for years as  it will be the first Team Event since Athens 2004,  and only the top 24 Teams from Aarhus will be allowed to continue on the road to Beijing 2008. They will then compete in the Olympic Qualifications in 2007, in Stuttgart, where only the top 12 will go on to compete in Beijung.

MEN’S DRAW

9 Subdivisions (including 6 Mixed Groups) which will compete on 14/15 October 2006

The Great Britain Men’s Team will perform in Subdivision 3, together with Portugal, Algeria and Kazakhstan and will start on P. Bars. There are some fascinating contests produced in the draw which all gym fans will eagerly anticipate.

USA, KOR and RUS open the Qualifications in Subdivision 1
CHN and JPN, the two Gymnastics Giants from Asia confront each other, plus BLR, in Subdivision 2.
ROM have been drawn with FRA, SUI and CAN in Subdivision 5
GER is in Subdivision 8 with UKR in Subdivision 9 and will be the last of the strongest teams set to perform on the second day of the Qualifications.

Eddie Van Hoof, British Men’s Technical Director told the BG Website “The draw, as always threw us a few surprises. It has generally been the case that being drawn in a later Subdivision is preferable. However, this year sees 5 of the top 6 teams from 2003 Anaheim (USA), drawn in the first two Subdivisions: USA, Korea and Russia drawn in the opening Subdivision; China and Japan in the second Sub-division. Such an early battle will test the judges, in that the highest standards will be set early on. Maintaining a consistent level will be vital for the teams in the remaining 7 Sub-divisions. Great Britain is drawn in Subdivision 3, meaning an early afternoon competition time. Our aim is to improve on the 23rd place of Anaheim and regain position in the Top 20.”.

WOMEN’S DRAW

10 Subdivisions (including 6 Mixed Groups) competing on 15/16 October 2006

The GBR Women’s Team will compete as one of the last, in Subdivision 9, together with HUN, CZE and SUI and they begin on Vault.

Adrian Stan, the British Technical Director said “Not a bad draw at all, but we must push ourselves to the maximum because the Qualifications are very important for entering Competition 2 (the Individual All-around) and Competition 3 (the Apparatus Finals), where we hope to see British competitors. I am confident that making top the 24 will not be a problem for our girls- they have been doing so much better over the last years.”

There are some enthralling contests produced by the draw:-

The new European Team Champions, ITA perform in Subdivision 1
FRA and GER – Subdivision 2
ESP and BRA- Subdivision 3
USA and AUS- Subdivision 5
ROM are drawn in Subdivision 7
RUS and BLR- Subdivision 8
CHN, UKR, NED- Subdivision 10

Liukin leads after first day of women’s gymnastics at 2006 Visa Championships

After 3 rotations at the 2006 Visa Championships, defending Champion Nastia Liukin lay in 3rd place but recovered four tenths to lead the field after a fantastic performance on uneven bars contributed to a score of 62.600 on the opening day. Nastia said “This meet was really a building block to Worlds. I want to take every opportunity to improve my routines and my execution. This meet is just one more step in that direction.”.

Last year’s US Visa Junior Champion Natasha Kelley missed the senior division cutoff last year by just one day, finished second with 61.500, 1.1 points behind Liukin in the first day’s competition. Her solid beam routine, which included a standing Arabian, scored 15.850 points, the second-highest balance beam score. Natasha said “It’s very exciting to be able to compete with the top seniors in this competition. After winning the junior national title last year, I really wanted to stay on top.”

Chellsie Memmel the 2005 All Around World Champion lay in joint 3rd place with Jana Bieger on 61.05. Chellsie is still recovering from her recent shoulder injury as she did not perform her normal full difficulty routines on vault and bars, as she prepares for the 2006 World Championships in October.
 

Liukin wins second straight senior all-around title at 2006 Visa Championships but criticism of Judging appears in US Media

Four Time National Champion Nastia Liukin who succssfully defended her US All Around Senior Title at the 2006 Visa Championships.

The 2005 world uneven bars and balance beam champion Nastia Liukin of WOGA, successfully defended her U.S. all-around title at the 2006 Visa Championships at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Natasha Kelley of  Stars Houston won the Silver Medal, and Jana Bieger, a member of the 2005 World Championships Team from BOCA, finished third. Alicia Sacramone, the defending world champion on floor, finished in fifth place.
 

In the second day’s Finals, the event could not have been closer as 16 year old Nastia was just a one-tenth lead ahead of Kelley after the first rotation, but Kelley turned in a 15.750 performance on beam to take a 0.650 lead after the second. Liukin’s two best events were next, and she pulled within two tenths of a point after posting 15.850 points on uneven bars in the third rotation where she openied with an inside stalder, reverse hecht, inside stalder, Higgens, Ono ½ off center, giant, Gienger, kip cast, Higgens 1/1 pir, Pak salto... toe shoot to High Bar and a double layout with a small hop on her dismount. Natasha Kelley moved to Floor opening with a beautiful double layout ... arabian double front where she stumbled.. FHS, a nice double front ... tour jete full turn... double turn... whip, whip, Flick Flick, back 2½... Round off, Flick Flick to double pike.

In the final rotation, Kelley scored 14.850 points on vault for a double-twisting Yurchenko with a small step on landing. Liukin, the 2005 World Champion is normally rock solid on beam, however she made errors with her flip flop-layout-whip series. Nastia performed press to hand... needle scale... FF, layout stepout, whip where she touched the beam... 1/1 leg above horizontal... side sommie... Onodi.. wolfe 1/1... front aerial, sheep jump... switch ring, sissone, double stag... round off , 3/1 with a small hop. Nastia’s clean execution elsewhere was good enough for 15.550 points to win her second US Visa All - Around Senior title by half a point, after winning back to back Junior Titles to claim her fourth consecutive National Title.

Nastia said  afterwards “To win juniors two years in a row and seniors two years in a row is pretty incredible. It’s amazing to be on top and to claim the title again.” Speaking about her error on Beam Nastia told Associated Press "I can't really tell you what happened. I've never really done that before and hope I won't do it again. At one point, I'm falling over, my legs came up and the next thing I knew, I was in a handstand." National Team coordinator Martha Karoyli said "She made a pretty big mistake, but she shows world-class form in everything she does. She gets rewarded for that and deducted for the mistake."

USA Visa 2006 All Around Silver Medalist Natasha Kelley

The Finals were not without controversy as the Judges took almost 2 minutes to produce Nastia’s final beam score and the judging of the new Code has attracted comment in the US media with former 1984 Olympic Champion Mary Lou Retton particularly outspoken. Various US sports media including USA Today, ESPN and Sports Illustrated included a syndicated article which quoted Retton’s comments, but Natasha’s Coach Dan Baker is also reported as saying "You have to earn your place. We thought we had it won. We made a good start. Doing as well as she did, it will help her in the future."

Natasha has had a fantastic year after tieing for the US Classic All Around Title with Ashley Priess last month and looks in great form ahead of the 2 US Training Camps which will be held next month for selections for the World Championships in October.

The non selection of former US Olympic Champion Dominique Moceanu for the US Visa Championships was also controversial and further news on this is shown here.

Individual Event champions at the 2006 Visa Championships included Alicia Sacramone of Brestyan’s on vault, who holds this event’s world title; Liukin on uneven bars and balance beam; and Sacramone and Randi Stageberg of Excalibur who tied for the floor title. Natasha Kelley, last year’s US Visa Junior Champion was second on uneven bars and balance beam and was fourth on Floor “ I was watching the scoreboard, I think it helped my confidence going into the last two events to know that I was leading the field”.

Bronze medalist in the All Around Chellsie Memmel commented "I'm very happy with my performance. There were a few mistakes out there, but that can be fixed."

The top 12 women in each division automatically qualified to the 2006 U.S. National Team. Up to four additional athletes in each division may be added to the team by the women’s selection committee.

Full results plus TV Details are shown below :-

Joint Gold Medalist on Floor Randi Stageberg. Alicia Sacramone tied for the Gold Medal and also won Gold on Vault.

All photos are copyright of Samantha Davies and must not be used without permission.

All-Around Seniors 2006 Visa Championships

1. Nastia Liukin 123.700
2. Natasha Kelley 123.200
3. Jana Bieger 123.000
4. Chellsie Memmel 121.400
5. Alicia Sacramone 121.000
6. Ashley Priess 120.900
7. Kassi Price 116.900
8. Amber Trani 115.200
9. Christine Nguyen 115.050
10. Randi Stageberg 114.200
11. Jacquelyn Johnson 113.850
11. Kayla Hoffman 113.850
13. Britney Ranzy 112.800
13. Morgan Evans 112.800
15. Cortni Beers 111.700
16. Hillary Mauro 111.050
17. Geralen Stack-Eaton 110.750
18. Alaina Johnson 109.850

Vault
1. Alicia Sacramone 31.275
2. Jana Bieger 30.300
3. Kassi Price 29.175

Uneven Bars
1. Nastia Liukin 32.250
2. Natasha Kelley 31.500
3. Kassi Price 31.350

Balance Beam
1. Nastia Liukin 31.850
2. Natasha Kelley 31.600
3. Jana Bieger 31.200

Floor Exercise
1. Randi Stageberg 30.650
1. Alicia Sacramone 30.650
3. Chellsie Memmel 30.600

NBC SPORTS COVERAGE OF THE 2006 VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS

 Don’t miss TV coverage of the 2006 Visa Championships on NBC Sports tonight Sunday 20th August from 7-8-00 pm EST for the Women’s Finals and on September 10th the Men’s Finals will be shown from 1-30 - 3-00pm EST.
 

SHAWN JOHNSON DOMINATES JUNIOR COMPETITION AT US VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Shawn Johnson 2006 US Visa All Around Champion by 4 points! Shawn also won Gold on Vault, Beam and Floor to crown a superb competition for the new US Junior Champion.

1ST DAY US JUNIOR VISA’S

In junior competition, Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s led after the first day. Bianca Flohr of Creston, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics, and Samantha Peszek of McCordsville, Ind./DeVeau’s Gymnastics, finished second and third, respectively.

Johnson had the highest vault, balance beam and floor exercise scores among the juniors. She landed a full-twisting double back dismount off beam (two flips, one twist), the only woman to do so at this event, and she and Peszek were the only two women to tumble double-twisting double backs (two flips, two twists) on floor.

“I am really happy with my performances today,” Johnson said. “I would like to go back to the gym and clean up my beam routine a bit. I also want to work on relaxing, so I calm down before Saturday. I was a little hyper today.”

Flohr turned in the highest uneven bars score of the day for a second-best all-around total of 61.050 points, four tenths ahead of Peszek.

“I came in hoping to be in first and am really happy being in second place,” Flohr said. “I had a great day and everything went really well. I am really proud of my bar routine.”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AS SHAWN WINS AA TITLE PLUS 3 INDIVIDUAL APPARATUS FINALS!


 

Bianca Flohr Silver Medalist in the 2006 All Around Visa Championships and right Samantha Peszek who won bronze in the All Around.

In the junior division, Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s, won the women’s all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise titles. Bianca Flohr of Creston, Ohio/Cincinnati, was second in the all-around and first on uneven bars for the second year in a row, and Samantha Peszek of McCordsville, Ind./DeVeau’s, finished third.

The same gymnasts also appeared in the top 3 at last month’s US Classic when Shawn Johnson won the All Around Title, while  Sam Peszek won Silver and Bianca Flohr the bronze.

Shawn was in outstanding form at the Junior Visa Championships after leading the first day’s competition. Her beam score of 16.200 points is believed to be the highest score earned by a U.S. junior this year under the new Code of points. Her combined all-around total of 124.100 points was more than four points ahead of her closest competitor and was the highest among all competitors, junior or senior.

“To win junior nationals is incredible,” Johnson said. “Last year was my first year as elite and my first Visa Championships. Sometimes time seems to fly by so fast, but I am enjoying every minute of it.” She was presented with the Gold Medal by 1984 Olympic Champion Mary Lou Retton and a delighted Shawn said “ I've wanted to meet her for a long time, or just see her. To have her be the one to give me the gold, it's amazing."

The Junior Competition is as particularly important this year as most of these girls will be eligible for the Olympic team in 2008 in Beijing. Shawn finished in 4th place in the All Around at her first Visa Championships in 2005, and won the All Around Title at the US Classic last month, and has now become the US Junior Champion. Coached by Liang Chow from China, Shawn had her name written in Chinese running down the sleeve of her leotard. At just 4 feet 6 inches, and nicknamed “ Peanut” by Dominique Moceanu at the recent US Training Camp, this talented young gymnast has excited gym fans and commentators everywhere and could be a real prospect for Beijing.

Results from the 2006 US Visa Junior Championships

All-Around Juniors

1. Shawn Johnson 124.100
2. Bianca Flohr 119.950
3. Samantha Peszek 119.450
4. Rebecca Bross 116.400
5. Ivana Hong 116.250
6. Corrie Lothrop115.550
7. Sarah DeMeo 115.100
8. Catherine Nguyen 114.200
9. Jordyn Wieber 114.050
9. Shantessa Pama 114.050
11. Cassie Whitcomb 113.450
12. Rachel Updike 113.400
13. Samantha Shapiro 113.350
14. Christa Tanella 113.200
15. Amy Borsellino 112.600
16. Katelyn Mohr 111.950
17. Kytra Hunter 111.750
18. Olivia Courtney 110.500
19. Petra Matthies 110.400
20. Kimberly Jacob 110.150
21. Randi Lau 109.100
22. Rachel York 108.950
23. Madison Turchin 108.550
24. Shelby Salmon 108.050
25. Ashley Stott 108.000
26. Hannah Toussaint 106.900
27. Erica Smith 106.650
28. Michelle Shealy 105.950
29. Sarie Morrison 104.800
30. Taylor Schick 104.000
31. Rheagan Courville 99.700
32. Bridget Sloan 89.800

Vault
1. Shawn Johnson 30.750
2. Samantha Peszek 30.500
3. Corrie Lothrop 30.400

Uneven Bars
1. Bianca Flohr 30.650
2. Shawn Johnson 30.350
3. Samantha Peszek 30.250

Balance Beam
1. Shawn Johnson 32.000
2. Rebecca Bross 30.800
3. Bridget Sloan 29.850
3. Bianca Flohr 29.850
3. Ivana Hong 29.850

Floor Exercise
1. Shawn Johnson 31.000
2. Bianca Flohr 29.800
3. Petra Matthies 29.350

LISA WANG WINS US RHYTHMIC TITLE AT VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS

In rhythmic gymnastics, last year’s silver medalist Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore, won the senior all-around title with 53.700 points. Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles/Hollywood Academy, won her third consecutive junior title with a score of 52.475 points
 

USA Gymnastics 2006-07 National Teams announced!

US Gymnastics have named the following gymnasts as members of the 2006 - 07 National Teams for Men and Women’s Artistic, Sports Acrobatics and Rhythmic gymnastics following the conclusion of the 2006 Visa Championships.

The trampoline and tumbling national teams will be announced in early 2007.

Women's artistic gymnastics

Senior

Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla./Boca Twisters

Kayla Hoffman, Union, N.J./Rebound

Jacquelyn Johnson, Westchester, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics

Natasha Kelley, Katy, Texas/Stars Houston

Nastia Liukin, Parker, Texas/WOGA

Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis./M&M

Christine Nguyen, Plano, Texas/WOGA

Kassi Price, Plantation, Fla./Orlando Metro

Ashley Priess, Hamilton, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics

Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass./BrestyanR17;s

Randi Stageberg, Chesapeake, Va./Excalibur

Amber Trani, Richland, Pa./Parkettes

Shayla Worley, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro

Junior

Rebecca Bross, Ann Arbor, Mich./WOGA

Sarah DeMeo, Overland Park, Kansas/GAGE

Bianca Flohr, Creston, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics

Ivana Hong, Laguna Hills, Calif./GAGE

Shawn Johnson, Des Moines, Iowa/Chow's

Corrie Lothrop, Gaithersburg, Md./Hill's

Catherine Nguyen, Plano, Texas/WOGA

Shantessa Pama, Dana Point, Calif./Gym Max

Samantha Peszek, McCordsville, Ind./DeVeau's

Samantha Shapiro, Los Angeles/All Olympia

Bridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp's

Rachel Updike, Overland Park, Kan./GAGE

Cassie Whitcomb, Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics

Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts

Men’s artistic gymnastics

Senior - Over 17 years old

Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo./Team Chevron

Alexander Artemev, Morrison, Colo./Team Chevron

Raj Bhavsar, Houston /Team Chevron

David Durante, Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron

Jason Gatson, Mesa, Ariz./Team Chevron

Sean Golden, Camden, N.J./Team Chevron

Joseph Hagerty, Albuquerque, N.M./Team Chevron

Jonathan Horton, Houston /University of Oklahoma

Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va./University of California – Berkeley

David Sender, Arlington Heights, Ill./Stanford University

Justin Spring, Burke, Va./Team Chevron

Clay Strother, Jasper, Texas/Team Chevron

Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif./Team Chevron

Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz./Team Chevron

Sean Townsend, Houston /Team Chevron

Junior - 16-18

Chris Cameron, Winter Haven, Fla./Sun Country / Florida Flips

Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas/WOGA

Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill./Buffalo Grove Gymnastics

Timothy Pittman, Houston /Cypress Academy

Paul Ruggeri III, Manlius, N.Y./CNY Gymnastics Center

Mel Anton Santander, Southborough, Mass./Mass Gym Center

Andrew Stover, Fullerton, Calif./SCATS HB

Junior - 14-15

Alexy Bilozertchev, Columbus, Ohio/OSU Boy’s Gymnastics

Kyle Bunthuwong, El Cerrito, Calif./Golden Bear Gymnastics

Josh Dixon, San Jose, Calif./Champions Academy

Danell Leyva, Miami/Gattaca - Universal Gymnastics

Philip Onorato, Plano, Texas/WOGA

Miguel Pineda, Galloway, Ohio/Hocking Valley Gymnastics

Neal Thompson, Woodside, Calif./San Mateo Gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics

Senior

Tracy Agyeman, Corona, N.Y./Isadora's

Aline Bakchajian, Woodland Hills, Calif./Hollywood Academy of Gymnastics

Kristian Brooks, Corunna, Mich./Sports Club of Novi

Ava Gehringer, Evanston, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic

Julia Itkina, Los Angeles, Calif./California Rhythms

Brenann Stacker, Lincolnshire, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic

Lisa Wang, Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic

Julie Zetlin, Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex

Junior

Reba Daniels, Playa Del Rey, Calif./Hollywood Academy of Gymnastics

Rachel Girma, Los Angeles/Los Angeles School of Gymnastics

Delaney Lonergan, Venice, Calif./Los Angeles School of Gymnastics

Rachel Marmer, Los Angeles/Hollywood Academy of Gymnastics

Ada Moisescu, Newton, Mass./Rhythmic Dreams

Tyler Rosemond, Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Big Apple Rhythmic

Marlee Shape, Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic

Anastasia Torba, Orinda, Calif./Alegro Rhythmic

Acrobatic gymnastics

Kristin Allen, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Acrobatics, Mixed Pair (Brian Kincher), senior

Julian Amaro, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Acrobatics, Men's Pair (Tyler Spray), senior

Clare Brunson, Riverside, Calif./Mission Hills Gymnastics, Mixed Pair (Michael Rodrigues), senior

Mariah Henninger, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Acrobatics, Women's Group (Allysha Kidd, Tisa Penny), senior

Allysha Kidd, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Acrobatics, Women's Group (Tisa Penny, Mariah Henninger), senior

Brian Kincher, Ft. Collins, Colo./West Coast Acrobatics, Mixed Pair (Kristin Allen), senior

Tisa Penny, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Acrobatics, Women's Group (Mariah Henninger, Allysha Kidd), senior

Michael Rodrigues, Livermore, Calif./Mission Hills Gymnastics, Mixed Pair (Clare Brunson), senior

Andre Solodar, San Jose, Calif./Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, Mixed Pair (Xiau-Ling Wee), senior

Tyler Spray, Livermore, Calif./West Coast Acrobatics, Men's Pair (Julian Amaro), senior

Kelianne Stankus, Riverside, Calif./Mission Hills Gymnastics, Mixed Pair (Ryan Ward), junior

Ryan Ward, Corona, Calif./Mission Hills Gymnastics, Mixed Pair (Kelianne Stankus), junior

Xiau-Ling Wee, Monte Sereno, Calif./Paramount Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics, Mixed Pair (Andre Solodar), senior

Congratulations to all of these gymnasts on National Selection.

WIN TICKETS TO THE WORLD ARTISTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GREAT BACKFLIP  MAGAZINE COMPETITION!

Our friends at Backflip Gym Magazine have just launched their biggest ever competition where you can win Ryanair flights to Aarhus in Denmark PLUS your chance to win season tickets for the complete World Artistic Championships in Denmark! Backflip have teamed up with Ryanair to bring gymnastics fans to Denmark and Heather Brown the Editor of Backflip said “ There is a direct connection from Stanstead, London to Aarhus with Ryanair. So it couldn’t be easier ”.

Full details of the competition are in issue 4 of Backflip magazine which is out now, and Backflip will also have a stand at the GB v Romania International at the City of Newcastle on Saturday August 26th where you can buy your copy of the magazine for only £3, and enter this fantastic competition!

Issue 4 includes the following great features:-

WIN - Ryanair Flights to Denmark and World Championships Tickets.
Enter Backflip’s biggest ever competition only in issue 4 (July/August)!

• European Championships (Men & Women)
• Well Spotted in Volos at the Euros!
• Vanessa Ferrari Feature
• World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships Poster Montage
• Kate Richardson Interview
• Ireland’s Katie Slader Retirement Piece
• Dance by Daniela Nanova - Battement Tendu Jete
• Training Tips by Meg Warren - Home Strengthening Exercises
• Around the Globe Gym News - great gossip & snippets
• Points of View by German Coach Ulla Koch
• Letters Page and Ask Beth Tweddle column

If you can’t make the GB v Romania International then please visit the Backflip Web Site to find out how you can subscibe to this excellent new Gym magazine for only £18 per year in the UK or €28 in Europe for 6 editions of the bi monthly magazine delivered direct to your home! Backflip is also available to International subscribers, and full details are available on the Site. Terms and conditions apply to competition entry.

We have read issue 3 which we thoroughly enjoyed, and Gymnastics Online will be including a full review of the magazine here next month.

Don’t miss out, and good luck with the competition!

Huntingdon Gym Club aims for 2012 with plans for £4 million expansion!

Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club have announced exciting new plans to build a new multi-millionpound complex to train gymnasts for the London Olympics in 2012. The club have applied for planning permission to extend its premises at Claytons Way, and if approved, Huntingdon will begin an ambitious programme to raise up to £4 million to fund the project

Head coach Paul Hall confirmed the Club would make lottery and grant applications, and is hopeful that local backers will also support the project. If the Scheme wins funding it should be ready to help gymnasts prepare for the 2012 London Olympic Games. It could also be used as a training base for International visiting teams at the 2012 Games. Paul confirmed that the extension was necessary to meet growing demand as the Club has 1,000 people going through it’s doors each week including toddlers and people with special needs, and already has a waiting list of hundreds more wanting to join the hugely popular Club. Paul said he also hoped the new gym could be used for other community purposes, such as indoor bowls and a dance studio and commented "I am hoping this will be something Huntingdonshire will be proud of.”

Huntingdon have an excellent National and International record with four members of the Club competing at the Commonwealth Games. 17 year old Louis Smith won the Commonwealth Title in Melbourne and successfully defended his Junior European Title on Pommel Horse earlier this year, scoring 14.950 ahead of the Russian gymnasts. Louis was also a member of the Junior Men’s Team who finished in 4th place at the European Championships in Volos. Luke Folwell also qualified for the Apparatus Finals at the Commonwealth Games finishing in 4th place on Vault, and won the Under 18 British Title in 2005. Huntingdon also had great success in the Under 16 section at the British Championships with Daniel Keatings winning the British Title with Louis collecting the Silver medal.

Former British Champion Lisa Mason was also from Huntingdon. Lisa won the All Around British Title three times and also became the Commonwealth Games Champion on vault in 1998, and went on to represent Great Britain at the Athens Olympics.

Louis Smith successfully defended his Junior European Title on Pommel Horse for Great Britain at the 2006 European Championships.

Huntingdon gymnasts also feature strongly in the upcoming International competitions this month with Luke Folwell and Louis Smith selected to appear in the Great Britain v Denmark International on August 26th in Ipswich with Robert Payne as reserve. The event will be used as part of the selection process for the World Championships in Denmark in October. Huntingdon gymnast Emma White became the British Champion on Vault at the recent British Championships in Guildford and has also been selected as a reserve for the Women’s International on the same weekend, as GB take on 3 time Olympic Champions Romania at the City of Newcastle Gym Club.

Luke Folwell at the 2005 British Men’s Championships where he won the British Under 18 Title.

The club have made a number of presentations on the project, including one to residents to allay concerns about the proposed expansion. The site is owned by Huntingdon Town Council, which made the application on the club's behalf, and Town clerk Mike Kennedy said: "It will be a fantastic facility if it gets built”.

Good luck to Huntingdon with this exciting expansion plan which demonstrates the huge success and ambition of the Club.

DOMINIQUE SPEAKS OUT AFTER NON SELECTION TO VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Olympic Gold medalist Dominque Moceanu filed a grievance when her petition to compete at the U.S. Championships was rejected after the recent U.S. Classic where she had competed on two events on Vault and Floor. She was attempting her comeback after retiring in 2000 with a knee injury, and had to pull out of last year's qualifying event for nationals with an Achilles' injury, but has since made a full recovery thanks to revolutionary non invasive surgery.

The three-member panel was composed of chairperson Marje Kiley, David Kennedy and former rhythmic gymnast Jessica Howard. Dominique lost her appeal by 2 votes to 1 after one of the Panel Members dissented.

After the U.S. Classic, a USA Gymnastics spokesperson said Moceanu's petition to the U.S. Championships was denied because she did not meet the required two-event score of 28.00 in Kansas City. However, during Wednesday's hearing,  USA Gymnastics' representative Kathy Kelly said Moceanu's petition was not rejected for that reason.

The Commitee said  "The panel wants Moceanu to compete as much as the selection committee does, but we concur with their analysis that there is no reasonable way to justify that she should be allowed to compete in the 2006 Visa Championships. The reasoning behind this was that it is very difficult to be a 'come back' competitor and that the ambiguity of the petitioning goals/criteria in this situation were unfair to [Moceanu]," said the summary decision. One of the panel dissented and said "This person believes that the unintentional miscommunication between her coach and the USAG was detrimental to [Moceanu] and that there was no harm in letting her compete."

The panel added “Everyone wants to give an Olympic gold medalist a chance to come back if they can. Unfortunately, in this case, despite the selection committee looking at several creative ways to analyze Dom’s performance, they could not find a fair way to justify her readiness for the competition. This analysis looked at her fitness test results, her rankings and even at her two score totals versus other competitors, despite not being a standard measure for the event (three or four event comparison was standard). The sport has no way to override these tests and put someone in a competition “just because” everyone wants to. This has to do with the sport’s integrity.”

Dominique Moceanu released the following statement on her Web Site regarding her non-selection for the Visa Championships:-

ST. PAUL--August 17, 2006--Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu will be present at the USA Gymnastics national championships in St. Paul this week, but she won’t be competing, despite an appeal to USAG to permit her to do so.

Moceanu will be on hand with her former Olympic teammates to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Magnificent Seven's triumph in Atlanta. After bouncing back from surgery for Achilles tendonosis, participation at this year’s Team USA Training Camp, and a crowd-pleasing performance at US Classic last month, Moceanu had hoped to be given an opportunity to compete at Nationals this week, but lost her appeal to USA Gymnastic’s grievance panel last Thursday in a 2-1 vote and will not be allowed to participate.

"The bottom line is that I simply wanted to be given a chance to compete,” said Moceanu. “My coach Michael Canales and I had been notified that two specific criteria needed to be achieved to enable me to compete at Nationals – to attend a National Team Training Camp and to compete at the U.S. Classic meet on at least one event. I completed both of these criteria.”

Moceanu contends that despite complying with the requirements provided, she was nonetheless denied the right to compete at Nationals by the panel.

“I was not seeking any special favors,” she added. “I just requested what I believe I rightfully earned — a chance to compete fairly at Nationals. It's disappointing, but I am grateful to all of my fans and friends who have supported me with words of encouragement. I’m feeling strong and doing really well. I’ll be back."

Future public appearances for Moceanu include her participation in the Hilton Gymnastics/Ice Skating Show taping on October 28th in Portland for later national broadcast by NBC.

An audio recording of Moceanu’s and Canales’ actual verbal presentations before the USAG Grievance Committee is available as an MP3 file on Moceanu’s website, www.dominique-moceanu.com

Moceanu said that despite her being blocked from competition at Nationals, she is looking forward to reuniting with her “Mag 7” teammates from the ’96 Games when they are celebrated at the event this weekend.

CLICK HERE FOR THE MAG 7 TRIBUTE NEWS AND TO SEE VIDEOS OF DOMI, KERRI AND SHANNON!

LILIA PODKOPAYEVA EXPECTING HER FIRST BABY

SEE A FANTASTIC VIDEO OF THE OLYMPIC, EUROPEAN & WORLD CHAMPION!

Wonderful news for one of our all- time favourite gymnasts as 1996 Olympic AA champion Lilia Podkopayeva of Ukraine and husband Timofei Nagorni have announced that Lilia is 6 month’s pregnant. The couple married in 2004 and recently adopted an eight month old baby boy from an orphanage in their home town of Donetsk.

Lilia, now aged 28, told Ukranian newspaper Fakty / kornmentari that doctors had warned that she might not be able to have children “ I couldn't get pregnant for a couple of years. After being attacked and beaten three years ago, I had to have three operations.” Timofei suggested in November last year that they adopt a child.

Lilia revealed that they were nervous because of the doctor’s warnings after the operations, and she had her ultrasound in America but did not tell anyone until she was 5 month’s pregnant. She finally told her mother the good news only 3 weeks ago.

The birth is expected for the middle of November and the couple have already picked a name, ‘It's going to be a girl, and I want to name her Karolina, in honour of my good friend singer Ani Lorak.’ Lorak whose real name is Karolina Kuyok is a star in Ukraine and Lilia wants her to be God Mother to the new baby.

For pictures of the happy couple and the full article which is in Russian, click here: http://www.facts.kiev.ua/2006/08/11/06.htm#1

Congratulations to Lilia and Timofei on your fantastic news from us here at Gymnastics Online and gym fans everywhere.

Millions of gym fans around the World will remember Lilia’s sensational performances when she became World Champion in 1995, and European and Olympic Champion in 1996, so to celebrate this great news, a special treat for all you Lilia fans!

Click here to see a fantastic video by Shanfan featuring the career highlights of Lilia Podkopayeva!

All videos are copyright of Shanfan and must not be copied or reproduced in any way without permission.