© John Cheng / Diane Bidermann

2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute, and U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team member Hannah Walter of Angola, N.Y./Gymnastics Unlimited-Orchard Park, were among the 23 individuals and three teams to receive financial support through the 2012 Women’s Sports Foundation Travel and Training Fund. Douglas has donated her award back to the WSF to be used to assist another athlete.


Aimed to fuel the future of Olympic and World Championship success, the WSF Travel and Training Fund offers support to athletes and ranges from $2,500 to $5,500.


Walter, who placed third on ribbon at the 2011 Visa Championships, is a member of the 2012-13 U.S. Rhythmic National Team. She will use the funds to achieve her competitive goals, which include moving up to the top-three in the U.S. Senior National Team rankings, representing the U.S. in international competitions and going to the 2013 World University Games. At the same time, she will continue to train as an elite with the ultimate goal of making the 2016 Olympic Team for group or individuals.


After helping the United States to team gold at the 2011 World Championships, Douglas won the gold medal on the uneven bars in March at the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships, where she also helped the USA to the team title. She won the gold medal on the uneven bars, the silver medal in the all-around and the bronze medal for the floor exercise at the 2012 Visa Championships in June.


Just a few weeks later, Douglas won the all-around title at the 2012 U.S. Olympic TrialsAca a