USA Gymnastics is celebrating Olympic Day in world-record fashion at 12 p.m. Monday in Pittsburgh as part of its lead-up to the 2014 P&G Gymnastics Championships. More than 700 participants from 14 Pittsburgh-area clubs will attempt to simultaneously cartwheel into the history books on Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente Bridge and break the previous record of 482 set in 2009 in Schothorst, Netherlands. In addition, more than 56 clubs around the United States are participating in the Olympic Day festivities.
2012 Olympic gold-medalist Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance, 1980 Olympian Ron Galimore, and Olympic basketball gold-medalist Suzie McConnell-Serio will celebrate Olympic Day and lead the world record attempt, as well as build awareness of the 2014 P&G Gymnastics Championships Aug. 21-24 at the CONSOL Energy Center. For those planning on participating, watching or following the world record attempt in Pittsburgh, use the hashtag #PGChamps when posting/tracking on social media.
Across the United States, more than 800 communities are hosting Olympic Day events that range from small gatherings to large, city-wide events that feature athlete appearances, family-friendly activities and interactive learning experiences. Appearances from 488 U.S. athletes, including 2014 Olympic luge bronze-medalist Erin Hamlin, four-time Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis, 13-time Paralympic alpine skiing and track & field medalist Chris Waddell, Douglas and McConnell-Serio.