Flossmoor Gymnast wins National Championship: Remarkable Resident

Teresa Ciambrone, a senior at , competed last weekend at the USA Gymnastics 2011 Junior Olympic Nationals in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was named National All-Around Champion for her age group.

“I had no idea I was in 1st place going into the awards ceremony, so it came as a huge surprise to me when they announced me as the National Champion,” said Ciambrone.

The Flossmoor-native has been a gymnast for Olympia Gymnastics Center in Joliet since the second grade. To prepare for Nationals, she spent the past year practicing at the Center for four to five days a week for three-and-a-half hours a day, not including the additional hour of commuting time.

“Although many of my classmates may not realize I put so much time into gymnastics, I know my close friends and family support me regardless,” Ciambrone said.

However, despite all of the time and energy she has dedicated to gymnastics over the past ten years, according to Ciambrone, this National Championship will be her last gymnastics meet. 

“I decided early on in high school that I would rather pursue a University based on their academics rather than their gymnastics programs,” Ciambrone said. “In addition, more recently I have had some back and foot problems, which may not allow me to compete for four more years.”

Ciambrone will be attending the University of Notre Dame this coming fall.