INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 26, 2016 — On Sept. 17, 2016, Gymnasts and gym clubs from the United States and nine other countries celebrated USA Gymnastics’ annual National Gymnastics Day. In addition to the day-long festivities at gym clubs, gymnasts and fans alike documented their involvement by posting photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the social media campaign “Show Off Your Skills Challenge.” The three contest winners earned tickets to the 2016 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions.
In 2016, National Gymnastics Day was also a celebration of the success we achieved in Rio. The United States won 12 medals at the Olympic Games –women’s team gold; Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champion Centre, all-around, vault and floor exercise gold, and balance beam bronze; Laurie Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./ MG Elite, balance beam silver; Madison Kocian of Dallas/WOGA, uneven bars silver; Danell Leyva of Miami/Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics), parallel bars and horizontal bar silver; Alex Naddour of Queen Creek, Ariz./Team Hilton (USA Youth Fitness Center), pommel horse bronze; and Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, all-around and floor exercise silver. The U.S. women’s team that won the Olympic title was comprised of Biles, Gabby Douglas of Tarzana, Calif./Buckeye Gymnastics, Hernandez, Kocian and Raisman.
Since its inception in 1999, National Gymnastics Day has evolved into a celebration and promotion of gymnastics that includes local outreach, social media activation and charitable activities. 78 different USA Gymnastics member clubs received grants from the National Gymnastics Foundation and the Nastia Liukin Fund to host special National Gymnastics Day events promoting fitness and gymnastics, as well as providing opportunities for children who do not have access to gymnastics.
For more information on “Show Off Your Skills Challenge,” and/or National Gymnastics Day go to gymnasticsday.com.