INDIANAPOLIS – Houston’s largest furniture outlet is the newest sponsor of the USA Gymnastics Women’s National Team Training Center located at the Karolyi Ranch near Huntsville, Texas.
Gallery Furniture, owned and operated by Jim McIngvale, is providing direct financial support to USA Gymnastics in exchange for rights and association with the Women’s National Team Training Center.
“We are thrilled to be associated with USA Gymnastics in this ever important Olympic year,” commented McIngvale. “Gallery Furniture has a history of being associated with winner’s in the sports world, and USA Gymnastics has demonstrated that it is on track for great success this summer.”
Gallery Furniture most recently promoted the Masters Tennis Cup in Houston, the final event on the men’s tour. Its sponsorship of USA Gymnastics will also include rights with Texas stops of the TJ Maxx Tour of Gymnastics Champions, which schedule will be announced in late February.
“A company such as Gallery Furniture is a perfect sponsor for the training center,” added USA Gymnastics President, Bob Colarossi. “Having a Texas based retailer involved provides local support and promotion, bringing valuable attention to a program that has been very successful for us. We look forward to working with Jim and his entire team.”
The USA Gymnastics Women’s National Team Training Center, which opened on May 19, 2003, is the nation’s only elite gymnastics training center dedicated to the highly successful U.S. Women’s National Team program. Located on the 2,000-acre Karolyi Ranch owned by legendary gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi, the 16,000 square-foot gymnasium and motel-style housing facility combines the latest technology in gymnastics equipment with a secluded location to provide the optimal training environment. The training center hosts monthly training camps for both Jr. and Sr. women, along with occasional international joint training camps, judges clinics, developmental camps, and the Karolyis’ summer gymnastics programs.
A custom brick “Walk of Fame” recognizing the clubs, National Team members and supporters of the National Team Training Center and National Team Program will be installed in 2004, along with a “Circle of Champions” at the head of the Walk to honor the sport’s female Olympians with individual bricks. Proceeds from the Walk of Fame commemorative brick sale will support the acquisition of additional equipment.
Arguably the world’s most successful coaching team, the Karolyis have produced 28 Olympians, nine Olympic champions, and 15 world champions in their 40 years of coaching, including such legends as Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci, Kim Zmeskal, Kerri Strug, the gold-medal 1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team and most recently the gold medal-winning 2003 World Championships Team.