American artistic gymnastics athletes competed internationally, and top T&T gymnasts were in domestic action over the weekend.
Pommel horse-specialist Stephen Nedoroscik (Worcester, Mass./EVO Gymnastics) was back in full form over the weekend, winning pommel horse gold to lead U.S. performances at the 2024 Baku World Cup in Azerbaijan. Nedoroscik scored a 15.400 to tie with Chinese Taipei’s Chih Kai Lee for the gold medal ahead of Yu-Jan Shiao of Chinese Taipei in third with a 15.300.
Winning her first World Cup medal in Baku was Katelyn Jong (Allen, Texas/Metroplex Gymnastics), who scored a 13.733 to take uneven bars bronze. Kaliya Nemour of Algeria was first (15.433) and Italy’s Elisa Iorio second (14.300).
Fellow Americans Patrick Hoopes (Lehi, Utah/U.S. Air Force Academy) and Reese Esponda (Missoula, Mon./Roots Gymnastics) each made final round appearances during their first international competitions. Hoopes picked up a sixth place-finish in the pommel horse final with a 14.900, while Esponda landed seventh in the floor exercise final with a 12.833.
- Results: Team | All-Around | Event Qualifications | Event Finals
The U.S. junior team of Claire Pease (Sunnyvale, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics), Lavi Crain (Blue Springs, Mo./ Great American Gymnastics Express), Addy Fulcher (Gastonia, N.C./Bull City Gymnastics) and Tyler Turner (San Jose, Calif./Airborne Gymnastics Training Center) took Canada by storm, earning nine medals at the 2024 International Gymnix.
With an overall score of 155.250, the four juniors claimed team gold, six points clear of host country Canada in second (149.250) and Japan in third (143.650). Their team score was bolstered by performances from Crain and Pease, who each took their place on the all-around podium on Saturday. Crain won all-around silver with a 52.600 after a tie-break with Canada’s Lia Monica Fontaine, who also scored a 52.600. Pease earned all-around bronze with a 52.200.
Crain also secured vault gold (13.583; 13.266, 13.900) and floor exercise silver (12.833) during Sunday’s individual event finals. Pease picked up uneven bars gold (14.133) and bronze on floor (12.533) and vault (13.433; 13.433, 13.433). In the balance beam final, Fulcher was the silver medalist with a 12.366.
U.S. trampoline and tumbling athletes of all ages were in Oklahoma City this weekend to contest for titles at the 2024 Winter Classic Invitational. The following junior and senior elite gymnasts claimed the gold medals in their divisions:
Trampoline
Women
Senior: Sarah Webster — Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, 55.060
Junior: Alexandra Mytnik — Manalapan, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy, 51.770
Men
Senior: Elijah Vogel — Longmont, Colo./Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics, 56.890
Junior: Rafi Pikofsky-Christiansen — Silver Spring, Md./Dynamite Gymnastics, 50.160
Tumbling
Women
Senior: Miah Bruns — Crete, Ill./World Champions Centre, 52.600
Junior: Skye Hawk — Allen, Texas/Eagle Gymnastics Academy, 43.460
Men
Senior: Kaden Brown — Herriman, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling, 55.070
Junior: Eli Nilson — Draper, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling, 56.860
Double Mini
Women
Senior: Aliah Raga — Denton, Md./Dynamite Gymnastics,53.000
Junior: Chandler Graham — Amarillo, Texas/All American Gymnastics, 47.000
Men
Senior: Ruben Padilla — Bluffdale, Utah/Wasatch Trampoline & Tumbling, 60.140
Junior: Mick Seyler — Flower Mound, Texas/Southlake Gymnastics Academy, 50.600
Trampolinists will be in action later this month for the 2024 Cottbus World Cup in Germany.