Defending National Champion Blaine Wilson
begins his Quest for Olympic Gold
Indianapolis, Ind. – Olympians and four-time National Champions Blaine Wilson (Columbus, Ohio) and John Roethlisberger (Falcon Heights, Minn.) will be among the featured participants at the GymJam Men’s National Qualifier, July 1 at the University of California Santa Barbara Robertson Gymnasium.
“This is going to be a great meet featuring all of our top athletes,” said Ron Galimore, Senior Director of the Men’s Program. “The competition is a good chance for the men to prepare for further qualification events.”
The GymJam Men’s National Qualifier qualifies Olympic hopefuls to the John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships, July 26-29 in St. Louis, which is the first of two qualification events for the 2000 Olympic Team. The final selection will occur at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, August 17-20 in Boston.
Also highlighting the competition are 1996 Olympian Chainey Umphrey (Albuquerque, N.M.), as well as 1999 World Championship Team Members Steve McCain (Houston, Texas), Chris Young (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Jay Thorton (Augusta, Ga.), Yewki Tomita (Tucson, Ariz.) and Sean Townsend (Dallas, Texas). Jason Gatson (Upland, Calif.), a top Olympic hopeful returning from re-constructive knee surgery, is also scheduled to compete.
GymJam Men’s National Qualifier Schedule
Session 1 – 3:30 p.m.
Session 2 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets for the GymJam Men’s National Qualifier are $13 for adults, $9 for teens, $7 for children, and free for children four and under. All tickets may be purchased at the door.
The GymJam Men’s National Qualifier is hosted by Chris Waller’s Summer Gymnastics Jam. GymJam, owned and operated by 1992 Olympian Chris Waller, is a large gymnastics camp for children.