USA Gymnastics announced today that the 2022 USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships will be held May 10-15, 2022, at Bell Bank Park powered by Legacy Sports USA in Mesa, Ariz. Following the success of the inaugural combined men’s and women’s artistic championships last year, the event will continue to feature gymnasts from both disciplines, with upwards of 1,500 athletes expected to compete.
The championships serve as the culmination of the competitive season for USA Gymnastics Development Program Women’s Level 10 athletes and Men’s Level 8 and 9 Junior Elite and Level 10 Junior Elite and Junior National athletes. Many of the nation’s top elite gymnasts are alumni of past men’s and women’s championships, which were previously held separately under the moniker Junior Olympic Nationals.
“After combining the men’s and women’s Development Program National Championships last year, we are delighted to once again host these events on a shared stage,” said Stefanie Korepin, USA Gymnastics’ Chief Programs Officer. “The annual national championships feature top-level athletes who represent the future of USA Gymnastics, and we can’t wait to host them at a brand-new facility in Mesa, Arizona, this year.”
Legacy Sports USA will serve as the local partner for this event.
“We are extremely excited to partner with USA Gymnastics to host their Development Program National Championships,” said Chad Miller, CEO of Legacy Sports USA. “This will be the first national gymnastics competition to be held at the new Bell Bank Park, and we can’t wait to showcase these tremendous athletes at our premier gymnastics venue.”
Men’s competition
In addition to the all-around, champions will be crowned for all six apparatus – floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar – and competitors will be separated by age group.
Based on the results of the USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships, fourteen elite-track gymnasts between Levels 8 and 9 will be named to the Level 8/9 National Team. Level 10 gymnasts competing in the elite division are eligible to qualify to the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships where the Level 10 National Team will be determined.
Qualification for the USA Gymnastics Development Program Nationals is determined at the state and regional level. To earn a spot, gymnasts will compete in state and regional championships and may qualify based on their all-around ranking or individual event placement.
Men’s artistic gymnastics regions are determined by state as follows:
- Region 1 -- Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada
- Region 2 – Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
- Region 3 – Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
- Region 4 – Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
- Region 5 – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
- Region 6 – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
- Region 7 – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
- Region 8 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
- Region 9 – Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
The annual USAG Collegiate GymACT Championships will again be held in conjunction with the Development Program National Championships. The competition will take place May 14, and additional details are forthcoming. For more information on the Gymnastics Association of College Teams, visit https://www.gymact.org/.
Women’s competition
Gymnasts will compete for the all-around title as well as in individual events – vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise – in 12 age divisions determined by birthdate:
- Junior A, Junior B, Junior C, Junior D, Junior E and Junior F
- Senior A, Senior B, Senior C, Senior D, Senior E and Senior F
The top four all-around athletes from each age division will make up the Development Program National Team and will receive an invitation to participate in a special training camp. Winning regions will also be determined at the conclusion of the event, with the region winning the most points taking home the title of Super Team.
Event participants qualify to compete through regional championships hosted by each of USA Gymnastics’ eight women’s artistic gymnastics regions. The top seven all-around gymnasts in each of the twelve age divisions from each of the eight regions will compete as regional team members.
New in 2022, USA Gymnastics is introducing a Wildcard Individual Event Specialist session, which has the potential to include 22 additional athletes per region. To qualify, gymnasts will need to possess the next-highest scores on an individual event at their respective regional championships. The qualified participants will be determined after each age group’s regional team is named.
Women’s artistic gymnastics regions are separated by state as follows:
- Region 1 -- Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah
- Region 2 – Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
- Region 3 – Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming
- Region 4 – Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
- Region 5 – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
- Region 6 – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
- Region 7 – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
- Region 8 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
About USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encompassing seven disciplines: women’s gymnastics, men’s gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, rhythmic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, gymnastics for all (a.k.a. group gymnastics) and, most recently, parkour. USA Gymnastics sets the rules and policies that govern the sport of gymnastics, including supporting the U.S. Gymnastics Teams for the Olympics and World Championships; promoting and developing gymnastics on the grassroots and national levels, as well as a safe, empowered and positive training environment; and serving as a resource and educational center for the more than 200,000 members, clubs, fans and gymnasts throughout the United States. The organization is deeply committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority: the safety and well-being of athletes and our community.
About Legacy Sports USA
Legacy Sports USA is the organization behind Bell Bank Park, originally the vision of Randy J. Miller, Chairman of Legacy Sports USA, Chad J. Miller, CEO of Legacy Sports USA, and Olympic gold medalist Dan O’Brien, Director of Performance Training at Bell Bank Park. Legacy Sports USA is dedicated to hosting premier tournament events for youth sports, as well as offering opportunities for athletes of all ages and at all levels to develop skills and enjoy training and competition. For more information visit www.LegacySportsUSA.com.
Bell Bank Park also will feature outdoor and indoor team athletic facilities geared to high energy entertainment and sports, as well as a multi-purpose arena and outdoor amphitheater designed for live events, family shows, exhibitions, and conventions. For more information visit www.BellBankPark.com.
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