Wendy Hilliard Steps Aside as Vice Chair of Rhythmic Program

Indianapolis – Wendy Hilliard has resigned as the Vice Chair of the Rhythmic Program for USA Gymnastics. Hilliard, who held the position for two years, cited her commitments to the Wendy Hilliard Foundation and New York 2012, the organization which aims to attract the 2012 Olympic Games to the New York area, among the primary reasons behind her decision to step aside.
Andrea Schmid Shapiro has accepted the nomination to replace Hilliard….

March 1, 2001

Indianapolis – Wendy Hilliard has resigned as the Vice Chair of the Rhythmic Program for USA Gymnastics. Hilliard, who held the position for two years, cited her commitments to the Wendy Hilliard Foundation and New York 2012, the organization which aims to attract the 2012 Olympic Games to the New York area, among the primary reasons behind her decision to step aside.

Andrea Schmid Shapiro has accepted the nomination to replace Hilliard. She was appointed by Ron Froehlich, Chairman of USA Gymnastics. Schmid Shapiro has many years of rhythmic gymnastics experience, including being a two-time Olympian, international judge, coach, researcher, teacher and author. She recently ended her term on the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee of which she served since 1984. Schmid Shapiro has been a professor of Kinesiology/Sport Psychology at San Francisco State University since 1963.

“I am honored to take on the Vice Chair position for the USA Gymnastics Rhythmic Program,” said Schmid Shapiro. “I plan to take the U.S. program to new heights by following the USA Gymnastics strategic plan that has been set in place for this Olympic quadrennium.”

“USA Gymnastics would like to thank Wendy Hilliard for her dedication to the USA Gymnastics rhythmic program throughout the years,” said Ron Froehlich, Chairman of USA Gymnastics. “Andrea Schmid Shapiro is an excellent candidate to replace Hilliard. Her experience and work ethic will provide strong leadership and expertise to the rhythmic program.”