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SPORTS ZONE 2: Largest Championship Gymnastics Meet

On Thursday, July 8, 2004, the largest championship gymnastics meet for girls was held in Pennsylvania. This competition is sponsored by the nation's 2,575 YMCAs. The event is held every year and is known as the National YMCA Gymnastics Championship and Festival. The initial competition began on July 5th, but the final championship was held on July 8th.

More than 1,300 gymnasts participated in the competition. They performed in front of an audience of 4,000 at Hatboro Horsham High School in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

The gymnasts were between the ages of 9 and 18, and it's likely that a few of them will be U.S. Team members in future Olympic Games. The competitors represented 109 teams from 30 different states. During this event, the gymnasts were competing for All-American status.

Among the competitors was Nicole Pierson, a nine-year-old gymnast who is expected to start intense, private training soon. Also competing was Geralen Stack-Eaton, who recently recovered from some training setbacks. Despite some of the trained and talented competition, the YMCA encourages gymnasts of all ages and abilities to participate in the event.

Collectively, the YMCA is the nation's largest community service organization and provider of childcare. The organization serves millions of people from all races, ages, and abilities.

--Written by Carla Shives

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