The final of four Squad Development camps took place last month at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, a U.S. Olympic Training Site. Gymnasts worked on ballet, body and apparatus technique, dance and strength and conditioning with national and international staff. The fourth and final camp also included guest athletes and coaches from the Pan American Union. The Development Squad had the opportunity to see Elite level athletes training together in preparation for the 2014 competitive season.
The Rhythmic Program hosted six development camps this year focused on coach education and athlete experiential learning: gymnasts have opportunities through the Open Camp, Future Stars testing, and elite competitive results as participation roads into the camps. Athletes, coaches and staff work collectively to build a strong skill foundation by prioritizing technique and healthy skill development and progressions through the support of the medical staff. Elite athletes work on increasing quality and consistency or refining compositions in addition to ballet and conditioning.
137 athletes from 42 clubs participated in the development process this year. Special thanks to all 2013 development staff contributors: Lana Lashoff (Squad Coordinator), Brooke Toohey (Future Stars Coordinator), Sonya Yankova (National Team ballet), Elizabeth Darling (National Team head trainer/USA Gymnastics Medical Task Force ), Amanda Scully (medical), Yana Arintsova (Squad technician), Ilia Pankratov (Professional Dance Teacher), Mila Harty (FS Technician), Lucy Kerznerman (Open Technician), Valentina Ganeva (Squad Technician) Elena Vitrychenko (FS Technician), and Tamara Manukovskaya (ballet) as well as to the staff at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center and the Ranch, especially Gary Warren.
