INDIANAPOLIS (December 18, 2023) – USA Gymnastics athletes from three disciplines have been elected to serve on the Athletes’ Council as representatives from 2024-27. The following gymnasts were elected to the council by their peers in their respective disciplines:
Lily Avila – Rhythmic
The 2022 Rhythmic Challenge all-around bronze medalist, Avila has won 13 international medals in her career, including four gold medals and one silver at the 2019 AmsterdaMMasters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Avila is a native of Highland Park, Ill., and is expected to graduate from Lake Forest College in 2025.
Drew Collins – Trampoline and Tumbling
A three-time National Team member, Collins was an elite gymnast for USAG for a full decade and competed in nine National Championships throughout his career and was an alternate for the 2017 World Championships team. He currently is a coach at Eagle Gymnastics Academy in Frisco, Texas.
Braiden McDougall – Acrobatic
Two-time world champion and nine-time U.S. gold medalist, McDougall, along with partner Angel Felix, won The World Games men’s pair silver in 2022 and made acro history in 2023, becoming the first U.S. men’s pair to win a World Cup Series gold medal. McDougall has lived and trained in Riverside, California.
Athletes’ Council representatives for women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics have not yet been named and the application window is still open for each position. Prospective applicants should contact [email protected] if they are interested in serving on the council.
The USA Gymnastics Athletes’ Council serves as the bridge between USA Gymnastics and its elite gymnasts. The council’s purpose is to aid in communications between the two entities, and council members help advocate for the athletes’ in any and all ways possible. Representatives are elected by fellow athletes in their respective disciplines. For more information about the Athletes’ Council and its currents members, visit the Athletes’ Council page on usagym.org.