NEW WAVERLY, Texas, May 26, 2015 – Fifty nine athletes attended the May Developmental Invite Camp held this past weekend at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, a U.S. Olympic Training Site. The gymnasts were selected by 1988 Olympic champion Valeri Liukin, developmental team coordinator, and the national coaching staff to participate in this training camp.
The camp opened with physical abilities testing for the athletes. Anika Pretty from United Elite Gymnastics placed first, followed by Leanne Desmond of Rochester Gymnastics Academy. Emily Maiden of San Mateo Gymnastics was third.
The athletes participated in two-a-day training sessions during camp with their coaches. After training sessions, coaches attended educational lectures given by Liukin and the national coaching staff.
At the end of the camp, awards were given to our physical abilities winners and one gymnast was selected by Liukin and the staff as the hardest worker at camp. Addison Fatta of Prestige Gymnastics was selected as the hardest worker and was presented with a USA Gymnastics team jacket.
Many of these athletes will be returning in August for the next Developmental Invite Camp. These young athletes are training with aspirations of becoming Hopes and elite gymnasts, ultimately, and making the U.S. national team.