USA Gymnastics National Championships

The USA Gymnastics National Championships is the annual artistic gymnastics national competition held in the United States for elite-level competition. It is currently organized by USA Gymnastics, the governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The national championships have been held since 1963.

History

20th century

Before 1970, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) was the national governing body for gymnastics, so the national championships from 1963 to 1969 were run under the auspices of that organization.[1][2]

The first USA Gymnastics national championships were held in Park Ridge, Illinois, in June 1963. Since then, the event has been held annually, usually over several days during the summer.

21st century

In 2012, the top three finishers in the women's all-around were Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and Aly Raisman. It was Wieber's second consecutive all-around title. In the individual events, Douglas won on uneven bars, Raisman won on balance beam and floor, and Sacramone won on vault.[3][4] In the men's all-around, the top three finishers were John Orozco, Danell Leyva, and Sam Mikulak. It was Orozco's first all-around title. Leyva won on parallel bars and high bar, Jacob Dalton won on floor, Alexander Naddour won on pommel horse, Jonathan Horton won on rings, and Sean Senters won on vault.[5]

In 2013, the top three finishers in the women's all-around were Simone Biles, Kyla Ross, and Brenna Dowell. In the individual events, Ross won on uneven bars and balance beam, and her Olympic teammate McKayla Maroney won on vault and floor exercise; Biles swept the silver medals in each event. In the men's all-around, the top three finishers were Sam Mikulak, Alexander Naddour, and Jacob Dalton.[6][7]

In 2014, the top three finishers in the women's all-around were Simone Biles, Kyla Ross, and Maggie Nichols. It was Biles's second consecutive all-around title. In the individual events, Biles won on both vault and floor exercise, Ross won on balance beam, and Ashton Locklear won on uneven bars. In the men's all-around, the top three finishers were Sam Mikulak, John Orozco, and Jacob Dalton. It was Mikulak's second consecutive all-around title. In the individual events, Dalton won on floor exercise, Mikulak won on pommel horse, Brandon Wynn won on still rings, Donnell Whittenburg won on vault, Danell Leyva won on parallel bars, and Orozco won on high bar.

In 2015, the top three finishers in the women's all-around were Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman. It was Biles's third consecutive all-around title, and she became the first female gymnast since Kim Zmeskal (1990, 1991, and 1992) to win the all-around 3 consecutive times. In the individual events, Biles won on both vault and balance beam, Madison Kocian won on uneven bars, and Raisman won on floor exercise. In the men's all-around, the top three finishers were Sam Mikulak, Donnell Whittenburg, and Chris Brooks. This was Mikulak's third consecutive all-around title, and he became the first male gymnast since Paul Hamm (2002, 2003, and 2004) to win the all-around 3 consecutive times. In the individual events, Steven Legendre won on floor exercise, Alex Naddour won on pommel horse, Whittenburg won on still rings, Mikulak won on both vault and parallel bars, and Brooks won on high bar.

In 2016, the top three finishers in the women's all-around were Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and Laurie Hernandez. It was Biles's fourth consecutive all-around title, and she became the first female gymnast since Joan Moore-Gnat (1971–1974) to win the all-around 4 times consecutively. In the individual events, Biles won on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise, and Ashton Locklear won on uneven bars. In the men's all-around, the top three finishers were Sam Mikulak, Chris Brooks, and Jake Dalton. This was Mikulak's fourth consecutive all-around title, and he became the first male gymnast since Blaine Wilson (1996–1999) to win the all-around four times consecutively. In the individual events, Dalton won on floor exercise and vault, Eddie Penev won on pommel horse, Donnell Whittenburg won on rings, Brooks won on parallel bars, and Paul Ruggeri won on high bar.

Records

The women's record, and overall record, of nine titles is held by Simone Biles, who won from 2013 to 2016, 2018 to 2019, 2021, and 2023 to 2024.[8] The record for most men's all-around titles is held by Sam Mikulak, who won six competitions from 2013 to 2016 and 2018 to 2019. Blaine Wilson won five consecutive times from 1996 to 2000. Joan Moore Gnat and John Roethlisberger have both won four times. Kurt Thomas, Kim Zmeskal, Paul Hamm and Brody Malone each won three times. The record for most individual titles across all events is Simone Biles, with twenty.[9] The record for most titles in one event is a tie between Alicia Sacramone, who won six women's vault competitions from 2005 to 2008, 2010, and 2012, and Simone Biles, who won six women's vault competitions from 2014 to 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Championships

USA Gymnastics National Championships champions
Year Date Location Women's Champion Men's Champion
1963* June 14–15Park Ridge, IllinoisDonna SchanezerArthur Shurlock
1964* June 17–18University of Iowanot heldRusty Mitchell
1965* April 16–17Nashville, TennesseeGail DaleyRusty Mitchell
1966* April 15–16Colorado Springs, ColoradoDonna SchanezerRusty Mitchell
1967* April 13–15April 28–29Tucson, ArizonaIowa City, Iowanot heldKatsutoshi Kanzaki
1968 April 24–25Memphis, TennesseeLinda ScottYoshi Hayasaki
1969 April 25–26Long Beach, CaliforniaJoyce TanacSteve Hug
1970 April 23–25Las Vegas, NevadaCathy RigbyMakoto Sakamoto
1971 November 18–20University of IllinoisJoan Moore GnatLinda Metheny MulvihillYoshi Takei
1972 Georgia Southern UniversityJoan Moore GnatCathy Rigby McCoyYoshi Takei
1973 (W) May 4–6(M) May 4–5Seattle, WashingtonPenn State UniversityJoan Moore GnatMarshall Avener
1974 (W) May 30–June 1(M) May 10–11Southern Illinois UniversityBerkeley, CaliforniaJoan Moore GnatJohn Crosby Jr.
1975 (W) May 22–24(M) June 12–14Eugene, OregonSouthern Illinois UniversityTammy ManvilleTom BeachBart Conner
1976 (W) April 8–10(M) May 21–22Allentown, PennsylvaniaBerkeley, CaliforniaDenise CheshireRobin HuebnerKurt Thomas
1977 (W) April 21–23(M) May 6–7California StateBaton Rouge, LouisianaDonna TurnbowKurt Thomas
1978 (W) May 4–6(M) June 1–3Uniondale, New YorkUCLAKathy JohnsonKurt Thomas
1979 May 18Dayton, OhioLeslie PyferBart Conner
1980 April 19University of UtahColumbus, OhioJulianne McNamaraPeter Vidmar
1981 (W) May 12–14(M) May 21–23Lehigh UniversityUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnTracee TalaveraJim Hartung
1982 (W) May 27–29(M) June 3–5University of UtahSyracuse, New YorkTracee TalaveraPeter Vidmar
1983 June 3–8Chicago, IllinoisDianne DurhamMitch Gaylord
1984 May 11–13Evanston, IllinoisMary Lou RettonMitch Gaylord
1985 June 6–9Jacksonville, FloridaSabrina MarBrian Babcock
1986 June 19–22Indianapolis, IndianaJennifer SeyTim Daggett
1987 June 18–21Kansas City, MissouriKristie PhillipsScott Johnson
1988 July 7–10Houston, TexasPhoebe MillsDan Hayden
1989 July 6–9Minneapolis, MinnesotaBrandy JohnsonTim Ryan
1990 June 7–10Denver, ColoradoKim ZmeskalJohn Roethlisberger
1991 June 6–9Cincinnati, OhioKim ZmeskalChris Waller
1992 May 14–17Columbus, OhioKim ZmeskalJohn Roethlisberger
1993 August 25–28Salt Lake City, UtahShannon MillerJohn Roethlisberger
1994 August 24–27Nashville, TennesseeDominique DawesScott Keswick
1995 August 16–19New Orleans, LouisianaDominique MoceanuJohn Roethlisberger
1996 June 5–8Knoxville, TennesseeShannon MillerBlaine Wilson
1997 August 13–16Denver, ColoradoVanessa AtlerKristy PowellBlaine Wilson
1998 August 19–22Indianapolis, IndianaKristen MaloneyBlaine Wilson
1999 August 25–28Sacramento, CaliforniaKristen MaloneyBlaine Wilson
2000 June 26–29St. Louis, MissouriElise RayBlaine Wilson
2001 August 8–11Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaTasha SchwikertSean Townsend
2002 August 7–10Cleveland, OhioTasha SchwikertPaul Hamm
2003 June 19–22Milwaukee, WisconsinCourtney KupetsPaul Hamm
2004 June 2–5Nashville, TennesseeCourtney KupetsCarly PattersonPaul Hamm
2005 August 10–13Indianapolis, IndianaNastia LiukinTodd Thornton
2006 August 16–19Saint Paul, MinnesotaNastia LiukinAlexander Artemev
2007 August 15–18San Jose, CaliforniaShawn JohnsonDavid Durante
2008 (W) June 5–7(M) May 22–24Boston, MassachusettsHouston, TexasShawn JohnsonDavid Sender
2009 August 12–15Dallas, TexasBridget SloanJonathan Horton
2010August 11–14Hartford, ConnecticutRebecca BrossJonathan Horton
2011August 17–20Saint Paul, MinnesotaJordyn WieberDanell Leyva
2012June 7–10St. Louis, MissouriJordyn WieberJohn Orozco
2013August 15–18Hartford, ConnecticutSimone BilesSam Mikulak
2014August 21–24Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaSimone BilesSam Mikulak
2015August 13–16Indianapolis, IndianaSimone BilesSam Mikulak
2016(W) June 24–26(M) June 3–5St. Louis, MissouriHartford, ConnecticutSimone BilesSam Mikulak
2017August 17–20Anaheim, CaliforniaRagan SmithYul Moldauer
2018August 16–19Boston, MassachusettsSimone BilesSam Mikulak
2019August 8–11Kansas City, MissouriSimone BilesSam Mikulak
2020June 4–7Fort Worth, TexasCanceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2021June 3–6Fort Worth, TexasSimone BilesBrody Malone
2022August 18–21Tampa, FloridaKonnor McClainBrody Malone
2023August 24–27San Jose, CaliforniaSimone BilesAsher Hong
2024May 30–June 2Fort Worth, TexasSimone BilesBrody Malone
2025August 7–10New Orleans, LouisianaHezly RiveraAsher Hong
2026August 6–9Phoenix, Arizona

*Unofficial national champion[1][2][11]

Medalists

Multi-time Women's National Champions
Shannon Miller1993 & 1996
Courtney Kupets2003 & 2004
Nastia Liukin2005 & 2006
Shawn Johnson2007 & 2008
Jordyn Wieber2011 & 2012
Simone Biles2013–16, 2018–19, 2021, & 2023–24
Multi-time Men's National Champions
Bart Conner1975 & 1979
Mitch Gaylord1983 & 1984
Paul Hamm2002, 2003, & 2004
Sam Mikulak2013–16 & 2018–19
Brody Malone2021–22, & 2024

Event name

In recent years, the USA Gymnastics National Championships have been sponsored by various companies, and the event is typically named for the sponsoring company.[12]

YearSponsorEvent name
1987–1988McDonald'sMcDonald's U.S. Gymnastics Championships
1992Phar-MorPhar-Mor U.S. Gymnastics Championships
1993–1996Coca-ColaCoca-Cola National Championships
1997–2000John Hancock FinancialJohn Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships
2004VisaVisa U.S. Gymnastics Championships
2005–2012VisaVisa Championships
2013–2017Procter & GambleP&G Gymnastics Championships
2018–2021National Broadcasting CompanyNBC Gymnastics Championships
2022OOFOSOOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships[13]
2023–presentXfinityXfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ ab"Former Women's National Champions"Archived 2016-08-07 at the Wayback Machine. usagym.org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  2. ^ ab"U.S. National Champions - Men"Archived 2016-04-23 at the Wayback Machine. usagym.org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  3. ^"Wieber wins back-to-back Visa Championships all-around titles"Archived 2020-11-27 at the Wayback Machine. usagym.org. June 10, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  4. ^Gregorian, Vahe. "Wieber wins women's title, but U.S. team remains in flux". stltoday.com. June 11, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  5. ^"Orozco comes from behind to win first U.S. all-around title at 2012 Visa Championships". usagym.org. June 9, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  6. ^"Biles wins women's all-around at 2013 P&G Championships". usagym.org. August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  7. ^"Mikulak wins men's all-around at 2013 P&G Gymnastics Championships". usagym.org. August 18, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  8. ^"Biles sweeps all to extend historical run; Senior Women's National Team announced at Xfinity U.S. Championships". USA Gymnastics. June 2, 2024.
  9. ^"Showing Skills No One Has Done Before, Simone Biles Blows The Doors Off A Sixth U.S. Gymnastics Title". teamusa.org. August 11, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  10. ^"USA Gymnastics will not hold national championships in 2020, sets 2021 meets". NBC Sports. May 12, 2020.
  11. ^"Locations and Dates for USA Gymnastics National Championships"Archived 2016-08-07 at the Wayback Machine. usagym.org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  12. ^USA Gymnastics. "Artistic Gymnastics National Championships Results".
  13. ^"OOFOS teams up with USA Gymnastics as title sponsor of U.S. Gymnastics Championships". July 19, 2022.
  14. ^"Comcast Becomes Proud Partner of USA Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. August 14, 2023.