2004 Olympic all-around champion Carly Patterson visited San Jose, Calif., Dec. 2-3, to promote the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics, which will feature the country’s best gymnasts vying for berths on the 2012 Olympic Team. Gymnasts will qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials based on performances at the 2012 Visa Championships, June 7-10, in St. Louis. For the 2012 Olympic Games, the team size has been changed to five men and five women.

 

In 2004, Patterson became the first U.S. woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around gold medal, following in the footsteps of Mary Lou Retton in 1984. She also claimed team and balance beam silver medals at the 2004 Olympic Games. At the 2003 World Championships, Patterson earned gold and silver medals, respectively, in the team and all-around events. She also was the 2004 U.S. all-around co-champion. Patterson trained at WOGA, home of 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, before retiring from competitive gymnastics. Since the Olympics, Patterson made several talk show appearances, was featured on an NBC special, adorned the front of a Wheaties box, and was honored as the March of Dimes’ "Sportswoman of the Year" in 2004 and in Teen People’s "20 Teens Who Will Change the World" in 2005. Patterson pursued a music career and was signed by Music Mind Records in 2007. She released her first single, "Temporary Life," in March 2008 and her second single, "Time to Wake Up," in February 2009. Her album, "Back to the Beginning," was released August 2009, and her song, "Here I Am," was used in advertising for the 2010 season of the TV show "Make It or Break It." Patterson is currently pursuing a degree in journalism and a future career in public speaking.

While tickets officially do not go on sale until early 2012, fans may make a deposit to reserve a ticket in the seating area of their choice. Gymnastics clubs participating in the Club Ticket Program currently are selling Olympic Trials tickets at discounted prices, available through Jan. 13, 2012. A list of the gym clubs involved in the ticket program is available online, and more clubs are added to the list each week. For more information on current ticket opportunities and the club list, go to sanjose2012.com.