Bringing Home the Gold
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/44228/1/Bringing-Home-the-Gold/Page1.html
Liz Douglass
By Liz Douglass
Published on 07/26/2011
Gymnast Anna Vultaggio took first in trampoline at the USA Gymnastics
Junior Olympic National Championships held in San Antonio, Texas. But there's more to this 8-year old than just high flying fun.
When people think of gymnastics, they tend to think of the artistic variety: the balance beams, uneven bars and the vault. But other forms of gymnastics have evolved into Olympic sports giving athletes the opportunity to reach for the gold in the trampoline, double mini trampoline and tumbling events.
The 2011 Trampoline & Tumbling Junior Olympic National Championships was held in San Antonio from July 9-15. The meet was the pinnacle of the junior trampoline and tumbling season and drew over 2,000 competitors from every state in the union this year.
Representing World Elite Gymnastics along with over 30 other athletes at the JO Nationals, 8-year old Lilianna Vultaggio of Coto de Caza, CA aimed high and brought home the gold with a first place medal for her execution of the Level 5 trampoline routine. Known as Anna by her friends and family, she also took 2nd in Level 5 tumbling and 7th in the Level 5 double mini trampoline with a score that was a mere five tenths of a point away from the first place gymnast. This was her first JO Nationals appearance.
Anna started her gymnastics career in the conventional artistic field. She competes in that arena during the fall and was the state champion for the uneven bars in 2010. 2011 marked her first competitive trampoline and tumbling season.
When she isn't practicing or working her lessons, this 4th grade student can be found volunteering in her community. Finding ways to give back is important to Anna and her family and she takes it very seriously.
"Each year my family participates in the Roosters' Foundation's annual food drive which feeds over 4,000 families in Southern California," said Anna. "My parents taught me early that it's important to give back. My brother's and I do what we can by donating a portion of our allowances and helping wherever we can."
The 2011 Trampoline & Tumbling Junior Olympic National Championships was held in San Antonio from July 9-15. The meet was the pinnacle of the junior trampoline and tumbling season and drew over 2,000 competitors from every state in the union this year.
Representing World Elite Gymnastics along with over 30 other athletes at the JO Nationals, 8-year old Lilianna Vultaggio of Coto de Caza, CA aimed high and brought home the gold with a first place medal for her execution of the Level 5 trampoline routine. Known as Anna by her friends and family, she also took 2nd in Level 5 tumbling and 7th in the Level 5 double mini trampoline with a score that was a mere five tenths of a point away from the first place gymnast. This was her first JO Nationals appearance.
Anna started her gymnastics career in the conventional artistic field. She competes in that arena during the fall and was the state champion for the uneven bars in 2010. 2011 marked her first competitive trampoline and tumbling season.
When she isn't practicing or working her lessons, this 4th grade student can be found volunteering in her community. Finding ways to give back is important to Anna and her family and she takes it very seriously.
"Each year my family participates in the Roosters' Foundation's annual food drive which feeds over 4,000 families in Southern California," said Anna. "My parents taught me early that it's important to give back. My brother's and I do what we can by donating a portion of our allowances and helping wherever we can."