ROUEN, France, May 5, 2009 – 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., and her seven teammates on the U.S. Women’s National Team have arrived in Rouen, France, for their friendly exchange on Friday, May 8. The team travelled to France following their competitive success in Muelheim, Germany.
In addition to Sloan, the gymnasts who will compete in Germany and France are: Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Gymnastics Club; Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Gymnastics Club; Olivia Courtney, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro; Kytra Hunter, Frederick, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics; Mattie Larson, Los Angeles/All Olympic Gymnastics; Corrie Lothrop, Danvers, Mass./Hill’s Gymnastics; and Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y./Dynamic Gymnastics. Sloan trains at Sharp’s Gymnastics.
In addition to Martha Karolyi, the U.S. women’s national team coordinator, the U.S. coaches for the friendly exchanges are Artur Akopyan of Los Angeles/All-Olympian Gymnastics Center; Christy Barineau of Orlando (Fla.) Metro; Kelli Hill of Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics; Marvin Sharp of Indianapolis/Sharp’s Gymnastics; and Jiani Wu of Naperville (Ill.) Gymnastics Club.
In Germany, the USA won the team competition, with Sloan taking the all-around top honors.