In elite gymnastics, just because you were once great, does not mean you are great. This is not only true in the gymnasts themselves, but also with their gyms.
1996 Olympian Amanda Borden went to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati has been a powerhouse in women’s gymnastics for many years producing many gold standard USA gymnasts, including 1996 Olympic gold medallist, Amanda Borden.
Leixe and Amelia both competed at the 2010 Nastia Liukin Supergil Cup
The future of Cincinnati is in safe hands with many talented juniors working up the elite ranks including 2012 Junior National Champion, Lexie Preissman. Lexie will be turning senior in 2013 and is a very eagerly anticipated competitor. She’s strong on all four events and will fit right in with any USA team and will likely pick up a few all around titles while she’s at it! Lexie is the 2012 Jesolo All around Champion, 2010 Super girl Cup Champion and 2011 Junior International Champion.
Amelia (left) And Lexie (right) are two of Cincinnati’s best known elites.
Amelia Hundley is another key Cincinnati member and will be turning senior in2014. She is also one of my favourite junior gymnasts! She’s a member of the 2012 Women’s Junior National team and won the bronze medal on bars at the 2012 VISA championships. She finished 3rd on vault at the 2012 City of Jesolo Trophy and came second on the same event at the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships. I predict we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future.
As well as many promising junior gymnasts, Cincinnati also has many talented new seniors including Brianna Brown and “Poof” Alexis Beucler to look forward to.
I talked to Cincinnati President and Head Coach Mary Lee Tracy about Lexie and Amelia’s upgrades and the future of Cincinnati Gymnastics.
Congratulations on coaching Lexie Preissman to a junior All around Title, how do you feel now she is turning senior?
Lexie and I are both excited for the challenge of moving into the senior division. She is getting ready and training hard to raise her level of difficulty on all four events.
Have you and Lexie set any goals for the next year?
Yes! American Cup, depending on what the Olympians do, qualify to the European meet in the Spring, remain in the top three all arounders at Championships and make the Worlds team!
Any upgrades for us to look forward to?
A second vault with Tsukahara entry, new release moves on bars and two new tumbling passes!
Amelia has another year Junior, Have you set any goals for her?
Yes, she has another year junior and wants to make the European trip and finish in the top three Nationals and is also upgrading every event and is very excited with training!
You have many talented Junior and Senior Gymnasts in your gym; do you ever find it difficult to split your time with them?
No! I have an incredible coaching staff! I just added Courtney McCool in September to Amy Wert and then my level ten staff are also very strong and helpful!
How do you motivate your girls?
I keep them focused on their goals number one then we do alt of games and challenges when the periods of training get a little boring or long.
What’s been your proudest moment as a coach?
Several! Olympics 96 with Amanda and Jayc, Pan American Championships Games with Morgan White, American Cup with Jennie Thompson, Nastia Cup with Amelia and Lexie and Championships this past year.
Is there any new gymnastics coming from Cincinnati you’d like to mention?
“Poof” Alexis Beucler was at Championships this past year, she is coming along and will be a senior this year and there is another group of five hopefuls and I am very excited about them, time will tell!
I’ve a great feeling about this Gym for the next four years!
Flippin' Olympics 