Kayla Williams (gymnast)
Encyclopedia
Kayla Williams is an American artistic gymnast. She is the 2009 Vault World Champion
and 2009 Vault
National Champion.
Williams began 2009 as a Level 10 gymnast, which is below elite level in USA Gymnastics
. In May 2009, she won the Junior Olympic National Championships in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise and won the silver medal on balance beam, losing to fellow gymnast Kailie Ponto. She qualified to elite level at a meet in June.
After qualifying for the U.S. Classic, she won the vault and floor exercise at that event and placed fifth in the all-around and on balance beam. This qualified her to the 2009 U.S. Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Williams was the first West Virginian since Mary Lou Retton
in 1984 to compete at the U.S. Championships. At the U.S. Championships, she won the National title on vault and made the U.S. National Team as a senior elite. Two months later, Williams was named to the team for the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
.
At the 2009 World Championships, Williams qualified first on vault. On the night of the vault event final, she competed a handspring laidout Rudi and a Yurchenko double full for a combined score of 15.087 and won the gold medal. She is the first American gymnast to win the World vault title.
Williams attended Huntington High School
.
She retired from elite gymnastics in July 2010, but plans to compete in Level 10 and in the NCAA. In May 2010, she committed to compete for the University of Alabama
gymnastics team
.
2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 41st World Artistic Gymnastics Championships was held at The O2 arena in London, United Kingdom, on 12 October to 18 October 2009. Similar to the World Championships in 2005, there were no team competitions...
and 2009 Vault
Vault (gymnastics)
The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault...
National Champion.
Williams began 2009 as a Level 10 gymnast, which is below elite level in USA Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics
United States of America Gymnastics or USAG is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics....
. In May 2009, she won the Junior Olympic National Championships in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise and won the silver medal on balance beam, losing to fellow gymnast Kailie Ponto. She qualified to elite level at a meet in June.
After qualifying for the U.S. Classic, she won the vault and floor exercise at that event and placed fifth in the all-around and on balance beam. This qualified her to the 2009 U.S. Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Williams was the first West Virginian since Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton is an American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist. She was the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the Olympic all-around title, after 14 Eastern Bloc countries boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.-Personal life:Retton was born in Fairmont, West...
in 1984 to compete at the U.S. Championships. At the U.S. Championships, she won the National title on vault and made the U.S. National Team as a senior elite. Two months later, Williams was named to the team for the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 41st World Artistic Gymnastics Championships was held at The O2 arena in London, United Kingdom, on 12 October to 18 October 2009. Similar to the World Championships in 2005, there were no team competitions...
.
At the 2009 World Championships, Williams qualified first on vault. On the night of the vault event final, she competed a handspring laidout Rudi and a Yurchenko double full for a combined score of 15.087 and won the gold medal. She is the first American gymnast to win the World vault title.
Williams attended Huntington High School
Huntington High School (West Virginia)
Huntington High School is a four year high school located on top of a hill just outside of Huntington, West Virginia. It was established in 1996 through the consolidation of the old Huntington and Huntington East High Schools. The school has a student body of approximately 1600 students. Huntington...
.
She retired from elite gymnastics in July 2010, but plans to compete in Level 10 and in the NCAA. In May 2010, she committed to compete for the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
gymnastics team
Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics
The Alabama Crimson Tide Gymnastics team represents the University of Alabama and is a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Tide compete in Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide have won 5 NCAA Women's Gymnastics national championships, 7 SEC championships, and an...
.