Succeed by Luan Peszek

Rebecca Bross Aspires to Succeed By Luan Peszek ebecca Bross is originally from Ann Arbor, Mich., but Photo by John Cheng moved to Plano, RTexas, at age 9 as a Level 7 gymnast to train at WOGA with coach Valeri Liukin. She has slowly and steadily climbed the ladder to success in the world of gymnastics. When asked about his Bross moved to the senior gymnast, Liukin said, “Rebecca ranks in 2009 and finished third in is such a hard working gymnast. the all-around and on beam, second She never makes a face or gives on floor, and sixth on bars. After an attitude, she just works. She’s the world selection camp, Bross what every coach wishes for. This had secured her spot on the World Code of Points is tough and there Championships team. is no other way but to work hard In London at the 2009 World day in and day out. Talent is only Championships, Bross was leading one little part of the equation. No the all-around after three events matter how much talent you have, and heading into one of her you still have to put in the work. strongest events, floor exercise. I look forward to coming to the Bross had the title pretty much gym everyday to work with in her grip, but unfortunately Rebecca because she always had an uncharacteristic mistake gives 110%.” and fell on her last tumbling pass. Bross first competed in the Bridget Sloan won the gold and Visa Championships in 2005 as Bross settled for the silver medal. a 12-year-old and finished 16th Bross also tied for the bronze medal all-around, making her first USA on bars and tied for fifth on floor. National Team. A year later, she not Although she was disappointed, only made the team but she also she didn’t let it get her down. She earned the silver medal on beam and immediately went back to the gym, finished fourth in the all-around. Based trained harder than ever and most on her performance, Bross also earned recently won the Tyson American Cup. a spot on the Junior Pan American Liukin said, “Rebecca is a very Championships team where she helped explosive and aggressive gymnast, like her team win gold and also won the a sprinter. I’m trying to pull the best individual gold medal on vault. At the out of her. She does big skills and flies 2007 Visa Championships Bross won the high on bars. She is a quick twitch junior title and three of the four events. athlete.” She and her teammates also won the gold Bross admitted she would love the medal at the Pan American Games and opportunity to go back to London in she finished second in the all-around and 2012 for the Olympic Games and re-do first on floor. In early 2008, Bross won the that floor routine and take the all- junior all-around title as well as three event around title, just like her teammates titles at the Pacific Rim Championships Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin did presented by Gillette Venus. in 2004 and 2008. 36 MNUSA GY ASTICS MARCH • APRIL 2010.

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