Natalie Lacuesta

1998 Rhythmic Senior National Champion
1997 Rhythmic Senior National Champion
1995 Rhythmic Junior National Champion
1994 Rhythmic Junior National Champion

Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
Residence: Wilmette, Ill.
Birth Date/Place: November 15, 1981/Chicago, Ill.
Club: Rhythmic Gems
Coach: Lana Lashoff, Galina Burns, Milena Gladkov
School: University of Michigan
Year in School: Sophomore (Fall '00)
Major: Dance and Business/Communications
Began Rhythmic Gymnastics: 1988
Years on National Team: 7 (1993-01)
Favorite Apparatus:
Hobbies: Writing poetry, dancing, listening to music, going out with friends, spending time with sister.

Natalie is one of two daughters born to Rodolfo and Evelyn Lacuesta. She is a two-time senior and junior national champion. Natalie and her older sister both started out as figure skaters but switched to rhythmic gymnastics. She enjoys writing poetry and her favorite subjects are math and French. Natalie's favorite book is The Stranger by Albert Camus. She is an accomplished ballerina and plans on a career in the performing arts.

International Competition

1999 Grand Prix Tournament Danube Cub, Bratislava, SLO; 17-th AA
1999 International 3-on-3 Championships, St. Petersburg, Fla.; 4th-AA)
1998 International 3-on-3 Championships, Fort Worth, Texas; 4th (with Blaine Wilson and Lindsay Wing)
1997 Deriugina Cup, Kiev, UKR; 19th-AA
1996 Julieta Shishmanova Invitational, Sofia, BUL; 26th-AA
1996 Kalamata Cup, Kalamata, GRE; 30th-AA
1995 Pacific Ocean Games, Cali, COL; 9th-AA, 2nd-Team, 3rd-rope & ribbon (Jr. Div.)
1995 Four Continents Championships, Cairo, EGY; T3rd-AA & clubs, 5th-rope, 4th-hoop(t) & ribbon (Jr. Div.)
1995 Thiais Competition, Thiais, FRA; 12th-AA
1994 Four Continents Championships, Seoul, KOR; T11th-AA (Jr. Div.)
1994 Int'l RSG Tournament of Portimao, Portimao, POR; 4th-AA, 4th-rope, 3rd-ball, 4th-clubs, 6th-ribbon

National Competition

2000 U.S. Rhythmic National Championships, St. Louis, Mo.; 2nd-AA, 4th-rope, 5th-hoop, 5th-ball, 4th-ribbon
2000 Rhythmic Eastern, Brooklyn, N.Y.; 2nd-AA
2000 Rhythmic Western, W. Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; 4th-AA
2000 Rhythmic Challenge, Colo. Spgs., Colo.; 6th-AA
1999 Rhythmic Challenge, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 3rd-AA
1999 Eastern Open, Atlanta, GA.; 1st-AA, 1st-rope, 1st-hoop, 1st-ball, 2nd-ribbon
1998 Rhythmic National Championships, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 1st-AA, 3rd-rope, 2nd-hoop and ribbon, 1st-ball
1998 Rhythmic Challenge, Downers Grove, Ill.; 1st-AA, 1st-hoop & ribbon, 2nd-clubs & rope
1997 Rhythmic National Championships, Houston, Texas; 1st-AA & rope, 3rd-hoop & clubs, 2nd-ribbon
1997 Rhythmic Challenge, Downers Grove, Ill.; 1st-AA
1996 U.S. Olympic Trials-Gymnastics, Boston, Mass.; 2nd-AA (did not compete; scores carried from 1996 Rhythmic National Championships)
1996 Rhythmic National Championships, Athens, Ga.; 2nd-AA, 2nd-rope, 3rd-ball, 3rd-clubs, 2nd-ribbon
1996 Rhythmic Challenge, Downers Grove, Ill.; 3rd-AA
1995 U.S. Olympic Festival, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 2nd-AA, hoop & clubs, 3rd-Team & rope, 4th-ribbon
1995 Rhythmic National Championships, Jacksonville, Fla.; 1st-AA, 1st-rope, 4th-hoop, 1st-clubs, 2nd-ribbon (Jr. Div.)
1995 Rhythmic Challenge, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 1st-AA (Jr. Div.)
1994 Rhythmic National Championships, Nassau, N.Y.; 1st-AA (Jr. Div.)

updated: 21-January-01