INDIANAPOLIS, October 21, 2020 – USA Gymnastics today announced that “USA Gymnastics Development Program” will be the new name for the development program formerly known as the Junior Olympic program.
USA Gymnastics made the decision to change the program name following increased restrictions around the use of the title ‘Junior Olympic’ earlier this year. No substantive programming changes will accompany the change in name.
“USA Gymnastics remains committed to supporting athletes of all levels across all disciplines as they strive to reach their goals in and out of the gym,” said Stefanie Korepin, Chief Programs Officer. “Under the USA Gymnastics Development Program, we will continue to provide the same top-tier competitive structure and programming initiatives that our community members have come to expect, while looking for new ways to innovate and adapt, as we explore opportunities to improve the gymnastics experience for all participants.”
This summer, USA Gymnastics issued a crowdsourcing request to the gymnastics community and received hundreds of suggestions for renaming the program. Though the organization held a public vote in August and announced a winning submission, concerns about the name’s acronym ultimately led USA Gymnastics to opt instead for another popular submission, the USA Gymnastics Development Program.