Purpose
The Athletes’ Council serves as a conduit between USA Gymnastics and elite U.S. athletes within the sport. In addition to communicating information from USA Gymnastics directly to the athletes, Council members share the concerns of athletes with representatives from USA Gymnastics and advocate on behalf of the athletes they serve.
Composition
The Council is comprised of elected volunteers who represent the various disciplines overseen by USA Gymnastics (acrobatic gymnastics, men’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and women’s artistic gymnastics). Two members, a primary and alternate, also serve on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Advisory Council. In addition to their Athletes’ Council duties, three members, selected by the Council, serve as athlete representatives on the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors. Those members are indicated below by an asterisk (*) symbol.
Eligibility
To be eligible to serve on the Athletes’ Council, an athlete must, at the time of the election, have competed in a World Championships, Pan American Games or Olympic Games within the past 10 years pursuant to Sections 8.5 of the Bylaws of the USOPC. Athletes are elected to four-year terms.
Click here for Jessica’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Jessica competed in acrobatic gymnastics as a member of the U.S. Junior and Senior National Teams and was part of the first U.S. senior women’s pair to medal at a FIG World Cup event. After retiring from competitive gymnastics, Jessica continued to coach part-time, host athlete clinics, and choreograph dance routines for gyms across the U.S. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sport psychology from Texas Christian University and is pursuing a master’s degree in kinesiology with special emphasis in sport and exercise psychology.
“I will continue to advocate for athletes to come first and that their voices are always heard.”
Click here for Grace’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Grace is a current National Team member and since 2018 has competed in a senior elite women’s group. She began training in acrobatic gymnastics at the age of 14 and has since competed at numerous national championships and represented the U.S. on the international level, including gold-medal-winning performances at the 2019 Pan American Acro Championships in Monterrey, Mexico. Grace is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Maryland.
“As an active acro athlete, I look forward to serving as a liaison for the community and providing direct input from athletes across the country, including relaying their interests and concerns, as we work together to instill positive and transformative changes in our sport.”
Click here for Akash’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
As a member of the Men’s Artistic National Team, Akash was part of the 2018 and 2019 World Championship teams that placed 4th. Akash also served as an alternate for both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He competed collegiately for Stanford University where he was a 17-time NCAA All-American and 5-time NCAA national champion. As a college gymnast, he received the Nissen-Emery Award and the Al Master’s Award, the highest honors in NCAA gymnastics and Stanford athletics, respectively. Akash holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford.
“I am excited to be able to serve and aid the athletes in any way I can. The athlete reps to the Athlete’s Council were extremely helpful while I’ve been on the national team, so I’d like to pay it forward and help the current athletes’ voices be heard.”
Click here for Sam’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
A member of the University of Nebraska Men’s Gymnastics team, Sam is a three-time veteran of the Men’s Junior National Team and was a two-time junior national champion. With the Huskers, Sam has earned All-American status twice. He was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2022 and was named Academic All-Big Ten for the last two seasons. Sam is majoring in hospitality, restaurant and tourism management and enjoys cooking and photography.
“I look forward to being an adequate voice and rep for men’s gymnastics and learning so much about the ins and outs of USAG. I also am excited to connect my role of SAAC president into a position with even more of a nationwide platform.”
Click here for Jessie’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Jessie was a member of the women’s artistic gymnastics national team and won gold at the 2011 Pan American Games. She continued my gymnastics career at the University of Nebraska, where she was a nine time All-American and, in 2015, won the Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year award. After college, she served as an assistant coach at Ball State University for two years and the University of Illinois for a year. A nutrition, exercise and health science major, Jessie also holds a master’s degree in sports performance and conditioning.
“I love being able to help gymnasts reach the goals they set. It is such a passion of mine.“
Click here for Emily’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
As a member of the Women’s Artistic National Team from 2014-2017, Emily earned team gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, and competed at the 2016 City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, where she contributed to the team championship and was third on vault. During the 2016 season, Emily was one of 14 gymnasts invited to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in San Jose, Calif. Following her elite career, she competed collegiately for the University of Georgia and was named to the SEC Community Service Team. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family science and an minor in sports management from UGA. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in sports pedagogy and serves as a graduate assistant in fan experience and licensing at the University of Georgia Athletic Association.
“I look forward to connecting with current elite gymnasts across the U.S. to advocate and provide a voice for our athletes.”
Click here for Evita’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
An active Rhythmic National Team member, Evita was the highest-ranked American rhythmic gymnast at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and became the most decorated athlete of the 2019 Pan American Games. She was also a top-ten finalist in the 90th Annual AAU Sullivan Awards and was voted the NextGen Female (U-20) at the Pan American Sports Awards. She is currently a student at Columbia University, working on a degree in psychology with underlying interests in social behavior and vision.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Athletes’ Council because it is a way for me to participate in the scaffolding that sets the stage for new and upcoming athletes. I’m also looking forward to giving back to the sport that raised me.”
Click here for Serena’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Serena was a member of the rhythmic gymnastics National Team from 2010-2018 and is a five-time all-around bronze medalist at the USA National Championships. She was a member of the 2014 and 2015 World Championships teams and competed at the 2017 University Games in Taipei as an undergraduate student at Princeton University. Serena completed her degree in 2020, graduating as a pre-law student with a major in Psychology and minors in Dance and Cognitive Science. She is now working with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and dancing with Movement Headquarters, a NYC-based contemporary ballet company. Serena also serves on the USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council as a representative for the sport of gymnastics.
“The athlete’s council plays such a special role for all our athletes in creating a healthy and safe space for them all; I am so excited to be able help our gymnasts in any way I can and to encourage them to find power in using their voices. “
Click here for Alex’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Alex competes in trampoline and tumbling as a member of the U.S. Senior National Team and has been a part of eight World Championships teams, earning eight medals throughout his career. He holds a degree in sport management, business, and Spanish from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and serves as marketing director of a youth athletics facility.
“I am passionate about the development of the sport and ensuring the voices of athletes are heard.”
Click here for Michael’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Michael Devine was a member of the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Junior and Senior National Teams from 2004-2012, earning a fourth-place team finish at the 2009 World Championships. While competing on the national team, he completed a bachelor’s in biochemistry at Beloit College in and later graduated from medical school from Midwestern University. He has since completed a residency in internal medicine and is currently an assistant professor with the University of Massachusetts Medical School where he works in the Hospital Medicine Department. Throughout medical school and his residency, Michael served on the T&T scholarship committee.
“I joined the athlete council to help give back to the gymnastics community that gave so much to me. I am excited to help support the next generation of athletes and promote positive changes in the sport of gymnastics.”
Click here for Serena’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Serena was a member of the rhythmic gymnastics National Team from 2010-2018 and is a five-time all-around bronze medalist at the USA National Championships. She was a member of the 2014 and 2015 World Championships teams and competed at the 2017 University Games in Taipei as an undergraduate student at Princeton University. Serena completed her degree in 2020, graduating as a pre-law student with a major in Psychology and minors in Dance and Cognitive Science. She is now working with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and dancing with Movement Headquarters, a NYC-based contemporary ballet company. Serena also serves as a representative for rhythmic gymnastics on the USA Gymnastics Athletes’ Council
Click here for Logan’s USA Gymnastics athlete profile.
Logan serves as managing director for World Elite Gymnastics in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., where he also oversees the trampoline and tumbling program and is the trampoline head coach. He was a member of the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling National Team from 2008-18, appearing in eight World Championships and earning an Olympic berth – after being named an alternate in 2008 and 2012, Logan represented the U.S. at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He made history as the first male U.S. T&T athlete to earn World Cup gold in both individual and synchronized trampoline and finished his career with seven synchronized trampoline national championship titles. Logan has been honored as USAG’s Trampoline Athlete of the Year, Developmental Coach of the Year, and Coach of the Year, respectively. He is actively involved in supporting The Prentice School, which specializes in teaching children with unique learning differences. Logan studied child development at Saddleback College.
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