More Women's World Championships Interviews: Rebecca Bross | Ivana Hong | Bridget Sloan
Williams wins USA's first ever Worlds vault gold medal

By Luan Peszek
Photo by John Cheng

The 2009 World Gymnastics Championships took place in London, Oct. 13-18, and the USA claimed a total of five medals, including two gold, one silver and two bronze. Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., and Rebecca Bross of Plano, Texas, dazzled on the world stage in the women's all-around final, going 1-2 in the all-around rankings. During event finals, the powerful Kayla Williams of Huntington, W. Va., won the gold medal on vault, the graceful Ivana Hong of Allen, Texas, won the bronze medal on beam, and Bross's difficulty-packed skills on uneven bars earned her the bronze medal.

Kayla Williams

USA Gymnastics: What was the best part of the trip for you?
Kayla: Winning the vault title, but the whole trip was definitely an experience of a lifetime

USA Gymnastics: What was your best event and why?
Kayla: Definitely vault! I went as a specialist for vault and floor, but because I won vault it was my best event.

USA Gymnastics: What was it like to compete for the U.S. at the World Championships?
Kayla: It was such an honor to be able to represent not only myself, but also my country. There's no better feeling than the one you get when you put on a USA leo and know that you are a part of one of the greatest teams in the world.

USA Gymnastics: What was the food like?
Kayla: Really good actually. I was a little worried at first that it would be really different, but it was actually kind of American.

USA Gymnastics: Who did you room with?
Kayla: Rebecca Bross

USA Gymnastics: Did you get to sightsee?
Kayla: On our last day we went sightseeing and saw all of London pretty much. We went to the Tower of London, London Bridge, Big Ben, and in the evening we went to see a musical, Wicked.

USA Gymnastics: What is London like?
Kayla: London was amazing! It's like an old fashion New York.

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