PUURS, Belgium – Feb. 13, 2016 –- U.S. athletes won seven medals over the weekend at the 2016 Belgium FIG World Cup and Flanders International Acro Cup in Puurs, Belgium. Team USA won three bronze medals at the Belgium FIG World Cup: women’s pair – Maren Merwarth and Jessica Renteria both of San Antonio/Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio, 26.110; mixed pair – Axel Osborne and Tiffani Williams both of Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy, 27.740; and women’s group – Londrea Garett, Amanda Kievsky and Emilia Segel all of Columbia, Md./ Emilias Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, 26.690.

Four U.S. pairs/groups won medals in the age-group competition at the 2016 Flanders International Acro Cup. U.S. medalists from the competition are listed below.

Age-group Division
13–19 Women’s group: Eily Corbett, Sydney Wu and Nicole Yamamoto of West Coast Training Center in Livermore, Calif. – 26.800, third place
12-18 Women’s group: Sara Mercer, Sophia Handel and Cameron Jones of Xtreme Acro in Rockville, Md. – 27.350, second place
12-18 Women’s group: Anna Grafov, Caitlyn Kicza and Lauren Pountnay of Emilias Acro Gymnastics and Cheer in Columbia, Md.  – 27.000, third place
11-16 Mixed pair: Aidan Merwarth and Devon Merwarth of San Antonio/Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio – 26.750, third place

Acrobatic gymnastics combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatics. Routines are choreographed to music and consist of dance, tumbling, and partner skills. At the elite level, each pair or group performs a balance, dynamic and combined routine. Pyramids and partner holds characterize the balance routine, while synchronized tumbling and intricate flight elements define the dynamic exercise. An acrobatic gymnastics pair consists of a base and a top. A women’s group is comprised of three athletes – a base, middle and top partner – while a men’s group has four athletes, a base, two middle partners and one top partner.


Senior Women’s Pair Maren Merwarth and Jessica Renteria – Bronze Medal


Senior Mixed Pair Axel Osborne and Tiffani Williams – Bronze Medal


Senior Women’s Group Londrea Garett, Amanda Kievsky and Emilia Segel – Bronze Medal


13-19 Women’s Group Eily Corbett, Sydney Wu and Nicole – Bronze Medal


12-18 Women’s Group Sara Mercer, Sophia Handel and Cameron Jones (Silver Medal), Anna Grafov, Caitlyn Kicza and Lauren Pountnay (Bronze Medal)


11-16 Mixed pair Aidan Merwarth and Devon Merwarth – Bronze Medal