© Todd Bissonette
HOUSTON, Texas, May 24, 2008 – Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill., won her third straight U.S. all-around title in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2008 Visa Championships at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. She won all four gold medals in the individual events (clubs, hoop, ribbon and rope) during Thursday’s competition.
She posted a two-day score of 131.950 to best Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles, Calif., and Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill., who finished second and third, respectively. Marmer posted a 125.100 and Gehringer scored a 123.550.
Wang has decided to retire from competitive rhythmic gymnastics and focus on college. She will enroll at Yale University in the fall.
“I loved being out there,” Wang said of her final competition. “It was great doing the sport that I love. It’s an amazing sport and it was an amazing part of my life.”
Wang retires with 13 career U.S. senior rhythmic gymnastics titles: the all-around, clubs, hoop, ribbon and rope in 2008; the all-around, hoop and clubs in 2007; the all-around, ball and ribbon in 2006; and ball and clubs in 2005. She also won five U.S. titles as a junior: hoop and clubs in 2002; and the all-around, ball and ribbon in 2001. Wang has represented the United States at three World Championships (2003, 2005 and 2007). At the 2007 Pan American Games, she won gold medals in the all-around and ribbon, and placed second in clubs and rope.
In the junior all-around, Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill., claimed her second straight U.S. junior all-around title with a score of 122.100. Finishing second was Gabrielle Magid of Brooklyn, N.Y., with a score of 114.275, and in third was Rebecca Sereda of Las Vegas, Nev., with a score of 112.850.
About Reliant Park
Reliant Park is managed and operated by SMG. Reliant Park is the premier convention, tradeshow, entertainment and sports complex located in Houston – the cultural center and urban hub of Texas. Four major facilities – Reliant Center, Reliant Stadium, Reliant Arena and Reliant Astrodome – encompass 350 acres. Having previously hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2002 and 2005 Big 12 Conference Football Championships, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regionals in 2008 and 2010, the Final Four in 2011 and now the 2008 Visa Championships, Reliant Park is establishing itself as a long-term home for major national and international sporting events.
About Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Houston is a cultural melting pot—home to a vibrant arts scene, thriving ethnic neighborhoods and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Houston is one of a handful of American cities to house professional theater companies for each of the major arts disciplines. Sports fans can rally behind Houston’s professional teams in nearly every major sport. Houston is also home to the world’s largest concentration of medical professionals, world’s largest rodeo and nationally acclaimed restaurants and shopping. With 56,405 acres of total park space, Houston rates first among the nation’s 10 most populous cities in total acreage of park land. For more information on Houston, log on to www.visithoustontexas.com or call 1-800-4HOUSTON.
About USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.
2008 Visa Championships
Reliant Center
Houston, Texas
May 24, 2008
Rhythmic gymnastics all-around final results
Senior all-around
1. Lisa Wang, Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 131.950
2. Rachel Marmer, Los Angeles, Calif./Eurogymnastics, 125.100
3. Ava Gehringer, Evanston, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 123.550
4. Julie Zetlin, Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, 122.675
5. Rebecca Wallenstein, St. Augustine, Fla./World Rhythmics, 116.950
6. Sofya Roytburg, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lido Isadora Sports School, 109.550
7. Sarah Kudishevich, Eden Prairie, Minn./International Gymnastics of Minnesota, 108.450
8. JoAnna Arnold, Evanston, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 106.225
9. Nicole Chillingworth, Rolling Hills, Calif./Eurogymnastics, 105.625
10. Rachel Girma, Los Angeles, Calif./Los Angeles School of Gymnastics, 102.825
11. Delaney Lonergan, Los Angeles, Calif./Los Angeles School of Gymnastics, 95.800
12. Emily Barnett, Evanston, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 95.475
Junior all-around
1. Marlee Shape, Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 122.100
2. Gabrielle Magid, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lido Isadora Sports School, 114.275
3. Rebecca Sereda, Las Vegas, Nev./Lido Isadora Sports School, 112.850
4. Anastasia Torba, Orinda, Calif./Allegro Rhythmics, 112.250
5. Viktoriya Syatkina, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lido Isadora Sports School, 112.225
6. Michelle Milstein, Eagan, Minn./International Gymnastics of Minnesota, 110.100
7. Katherine Scarnechia, Lancaster, Calif./California Rhythms, 108.150
8. Polina Kozitskiy, Feasterville, Pa./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy, 107.875
9. Cindy Lu, Blaine, Minn./Twin Cities Rhythmic, 104.625
10. Jazzy Kerber, Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, 104.200
11. Jessica Bogdanov, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lido Isadora Sports School, 101.350
12. Olga Pavlenko, Flushing, N.Y./Lido Isadora Sports School, 99.825