Athlete Spotlight

Jordyn Wieber

Jordyn Wieber, the 2009 Tyson American Cup Champion, is only thirteen years old; born on July 12th 1995 in DeWitt, Michigan.  Jordyn still lives in DeWitt and is currently a full time 8th grader at DeWitt Junior High School.  Competing in her fist major competition at the age of 11, Jordyn was the youngest gymnast at the 2006 Visa National Championships.  She finished 9th overall and was named to her first national team.

Jordyn is still a regular girl, just with an extraordinary talent.  Each day Jordyn wakes up early for practice at the gym.  She then heads to school till 2:30, goes home for only around 15 minutes and heads back to the gym till around 8.  After coming home she still has homework to do before bed. 

“It’s a lot to handle, but I am getting more used to it,” Jordyn admitted.  “When I first started the school year it was kind of hard to get into the balance, but once I get into the school year I’m more used to it.”

The Tyson American Cup is an especially prestigious competition, because the winners usually win Olympic gold.  Nastia Liukin won the competition in 2007 and 2008, to go on to win the women’s all-around gold at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, as well as a team silver with the rest of the Unites States women’s gymnastics team.

“It feels really awesome [to be competing at such a high level],” Jordyn said.  “It feels good to still be a junior and going to a senior meet.  That’s a really big thing, so I’m really excited to be competing here.  I’m just trying not to freak out.”

Even though Jordyn is competing at Senior level meets, such as the Tyson American Cup, she is still classified as a Junior gymnast because of her age.  Jordyn will continue to be classified as a Junior International Elite until she turns 16, when she becomes a Senior. 

Jordyn started gymnastics at the age of 4, in a recreational class, because her mom told her “[she] was born with muscles” and looked like she was ready for the sport.  Jordyn took to gymnastics and kept excelling and advancing through the levels.

Jordyn now often trains at the Karolyi ranch in Texas with the rest of the past women’s 2008 Beijing Olympic team, including her Tyson American Cup competitor, Bridget Sloan.

“They are my main role models,” Jordyn said.  “I learn a lot from them and see they consistency and their confidence.  I learn a lot from that too.”

For those who want to get into gymnastics, “the major thing is you always have to work hard” Jordyn advises.  “Having dedication to the sport and going to practice everyday.”  But if you have that dedication, gymnastics can offer you so much.

Jordyn will be 16 for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and thus eligible to compete.  She admits that her goal is to make the 2012 women’s Olympic gymnastics team, but realizes she has four more years and is trying to take it slow.

“One step, one year, at a time,” Jordyn says.

For more photos from the Tyson American Cup and of Jordyn Weiber competing, please visit our flickr page.