U.S. women’s tumbling team world champions
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QUEBEC CITY, Que., Nov. 2, 2007 – The U.S. women’s tumbling team won the world team title at the 2007 World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Quebec City, Que.  In the double-mini trampoline team competition, the men won the silver medal, with the U.S. women coming in third.  The individual event finals are scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m.  The USA is competing in men’s synchronized trampoline and in men’s and women’s tumbling and double mini-tramp.

 

“We are wining medals because our athletes are performing consistently and hitting their routines,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “What is also very impressive is how close they are as a team and how they support one another.  It is very encouraging so see them go and represent our country with pride.”

 

The USA bested defending world team tumbling champ Russia, 98.50 to 97.70.  Great Britain was third at 96.60.  Yuliya Hall of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Susannah Johnson of Roanoke, Va., and Kaitlin Tortorich of Haymarket, Va., competed in the tumbling team finals.  Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va., is the fourth member of the USA’s gold-medal team. 

 

“It feels absolutely amazing,” said Tortorich, who will compete in the tumbling individual finals tomorrow.  “I’ve never been more proud of my country.  We just went out and rocked it.  It will be hard to go back to the hotel and rest, but I’ve got to get ready for tomorrow, which is also my birthday!”

 

“It is exciting (to win the gold),” said Johnson.  “We definitely screamed when we learned we won, and I think the entire arena could hear us.  When there were two more athletes to go, we knew our chances were really good. Yuliya’s pass was so awesome, and the last athlete was Russia’s Anna Korobeynikova, who is very dominant and hard to beat.  She faltered a bit and we realized in the middle of her pass that we had it.”

 

“We still can’t believe we won,” said Hall, who was a member of the 2005 women’s silver-medal team and will compete in the individual event finals.  “(Before my pass) I just tried to stay focused, thinking you have done so many passes to get here.  (After my pass) I was on the floor with the coaches and watching scores.  When I saw the final scores, I started running and screaming.  Now, I am already thinking about tomorrow. “

 

Kalon Ludvigson of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Stephen Raymond of Byron Center, Mich.