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J&J tumbler takes second at National Championship
Sarah Thompson (left) gathered for a photo with medalists.
J&J’s 17-year-old Senior Elite Tumbler Sarah Thompson of Davis, Ill., placed second at the USA Gymnastics National Championships in St. Louis, Mo. on June 27, earning her a top three national ranking in the sport of competitive Power Tumbling.
Thompson competed in three national events this spring and summer in Ohio, Alabama, and finishing up in Missouri. Thompson competes in the highest level of competition, the Senior Elite level for athletes ages 17 and up.
Thompson made her first full season return to the sport after suffering an Achilles rupture in 2019 at which time she was ranked first nationally in the Junior Elite division. After rehabilitating a year Thompson’s first season was cut short due to COVID and all competitions were canceled through the 2020 National Championships. Thompson took advantage of the additional offseason to further strengthen her ankle and build her difficulty level to be able to be competitive in the Senior Division in 2021.
Thompson has earned a spot on the six-member Senior National Women’s Tumbling Team as well as the four-member Senior Women’s World Championship team.
Thompson will compete in her first international competition at the World Championships this fall in Baku, Azerbaijan. She will travel with the USA delegation and compete representing her country against athletes from all across the world.
“Typically athletes begin at smaller international competitions, then international age group events before the highest level of competition of the World Championships”, noted Thompson’s coach Megan Gearhart.
“Things just worked out a little differently with the combination of the injury and the COVID year, and we couldn’t be more excited for Sarah. She has fought back from her injury and trained tirelessly, and I can’t think of another athlete who has earned this opportunity more than she has.”
Thompson will join the members of the USA World Championship team for a preparation camp prior to the competition and then travel with her USA team to the event in November 2021. For updates on Thompson’s progress and competition please follow the updates at the J&J Tumbling Teams Facebook page J&J Champions.
