INDIANAPOLIS, May 13, 2021 – The 2021 USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships kicked off today at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. For the first time, the event – previously known as the Junior Olympic National Championships – will feature both men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics divisions competing simultaneously in a shared venue. More than 600 Level 10 women’s gymnasts and 900 Level 8, 9 and 10 men’s gymnasts will face off between May 13-16 with the hope of calling themselves national champions.
The men’s competition spans Junior Elite and Junior National Levels 8, 9 and 10. The levels are determined by age and skill level. Level 8 consists of athletes who are 11 and 12 years old, while Level 9 gymnasts are 13 and 14 years old. At Level 10 there are two age divisions – 15-16 years old and 17-18 years old. The women also compete in divisions determined by age (spanning Junior A-F and Senior A-F sessions). All-around and event titles will be awarded in each division.
The event will stream live on FloGymnastics. A basic event schedule is listed below in eastern time. The 2021 USA Gymnastics Collegiate GymACT Championships will take place Saturday evening in conjunction with the event.
May 13
- 8:45 a.m. – Session 1: Level 9 Junior National optional competition
- 2:35 p.m. – Session 2: Level 8/9 Junior Elite optional competition
- 6:30 p.m. – Session 3: Level 10 Junior Elite optional competition
May 14
- 8:45 a.m. – Session 4: Level 10 Junior National optional competition
- 1:30 p.m. – Session 5: Level 10 Junior National optional competition
- 6:15 p.m. – Session 6: Level 10 Junior National and Regional Team optional competition
May 15
- 8:45 a.m. – Session 7: Level 8/9 Junior Elite technical sequences
- 12:55 p.m. – Session 8: Level 10 Junior Elite technical sequences
- 6:30 p.m. – Session 9: 2021 USA Gymnastics Collegiate GymACT Championships
May 16
- 8:45 a.m. – Session 10: Level 8 Junior National optional
- 2 p.m. – Session 11: Level 10 Junior National optional final
May 15
- 9:15 a.m. – Session 1: Junior A and Senior A
- 2 p.m. – Session 2: Junior B and Senior B
- 6:45 p.m. – Session 3: Junior C and Senior C
May 16
- 9:15 a.m. – Session 4: Junior D and Senior D
- 2 p.m. – Session 5: Junior E and Senior E
- 6:45 p.m. – Session 6: Junior F and Senior F
To advance to the USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships, gymnasts competed at state and regional competitions and qualified based on their all-around ranking or individual event placement.
At the conclusion of the men’s competition, Junior Elite gymnasts from Levels 8 and 9 will be named to the Men’s Level 8/9 Junior National Team. Junior Elite Level 10 athletes have the opportunity to qualify to the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which will be held June 3-6 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Level 10 Junior National Team will be determined following that event.
On the women’s side, the top-four all-around gymnasts in each age division will qualify to the 2021 USA Gymnastics Development Program National Team and will be invited to attend a training camp in Indianapolis.
Regional Super Team champions for the men’s and women’s competitions will also be crowned based on performances at the Development Program National Championships.
For men’s artistic gymnastics, USA Gymnastics has nine regions determined by state: Region 1 – Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada; Region 2 – Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington; Region 3 – Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas; Region 4 – Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin; Region 5 – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio; Region 6 – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; Region 7 – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; Region 8 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee; Region 9 – Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
Women’s artistic gymnastics is divided into eight regions also determined by state: Region 1 – Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah; Region 2 – Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington; Region 3 – Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming; Region 4 – Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin; Region 5 – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio; Region 6 – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont; Region 7 – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; Region 8 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.
Tickets are available for purchase onsite.
Many current and former Men’s and Women’s National Team members, including Olympic and World champions, competed in the Development-National Championships-equivalent Junior Olympic National Championships before advancing to the elite level of gymnastics.