INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., August, 9, 2005 – Chevron Corporation, a USA Gymnastics sponsor since 1998, has extended its sponsorship of USA Gymnastics through 2008. As in the past, Chevron will provide direct financial support to members of the Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The program has been expanded to provide event sponsorship rights and support to the Women’s National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch in Texas. Additionally, Chevron will supply the program with its TOP TIER gasoline with Techron, the first gasoline approved as meeting performance criteria set by leading automakers.
- Guillermo Alvarez of Denver, Colo., completing his first year on the national team, placed second in the all-around, pommel horse and vault at the 2005 Winter Cup Challenge.
- Alexander Artemev of Morrison, Colo., a member of the men’s national team for two years, won the pommel horse at the 2005 American Cup and the parallel bars at the 2004 Visa Championships.
- Raj Bhavsar of Houston, a four-year member of the senior national team, won the still rings at the 2004 Visa Championships and was the alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. In 2003, he was on the team took the silver medal at the World Championships, as well as earned the national vault title. He competes for Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
- David Durante of Garwood, N.J., a three-year member of the national team who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC), competed on the gold medal team that won the 2004 Stella Zakharova Cup in Kiev, Ukraine. He also earned the all-around title at the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas.
- Jason Gatson of Mesa, Ariz., a five-year national team member who also trains at the USOTC, earned a team silver medal at both the 2004 Olympic Games and 2003 World Championships, as well as winning the 2004 Visa American Cup title.
- Eric LaMorte of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., who joined the national team earlier this year, attends State University of New York at Farmingdale, majoring in criminal justice. He took first in the still rings at the 2005 Winter Cup Challenge, 2004 USA Gymnastics Championships and 2002 Junior Olympic National Championships, as well as earned a bronze medal at the 2005 American Cup.
- Brett McClure of Mill Creek, Wash., a six-year national team member who trains at the USOTC, earned team silver medals at the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2001 and 2003 World Championships. He also placed second in the pommel horse and all-around competitions at the 2004 Visa Championships.
- Todd Thornton of Houston, Texas, a four-year member of the Men’s National Team, won the high bar and placed second in the team competition at the 2004 Jurassic Classic in Calgary.
- Sean Townsend of Dallas, Texas, who has been on the men’s national team for seven years, earned national titles in the parallel bars in 2001-02 and the all-around in 2001, as well as winning the parallel bars crown and the team silver medal at the 2001 World Championships.
- Blaine Wilson of Columbus, Ohio, a 12-year national team member and three-time Olympian, was a member of the team that earned silver medals at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2003 World Championships, in addition to being a national champion from 1996-2000.