Talent Opportunity Program (TOP)

United States of America Gymnastics’ Talent Opportunity Program (or TOPs) is still going strong. Fifty-four athletes participated in the three-day National TOPs Team Camp at the Women’s National Team Training Center, held at the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas, Dec. 1-5. An additional 58 athletes participated in the TOPs B Camp, Dec. 5-9.

For the first time in the program’s history, 8-year-old gymnasts participated in the training camps with tremendous success. The athletes were instructed in all four Olympic events and dance by the National Team Developmental Coaching staff. Lectures were also given by the staff to the coaches on training techniques.

TOPs is a talent search and educational program for female gymnasts ages 7-11 and their coaches. During the months of June and July, 2,800 gymnasts ages 7-11 were evaluated on physical abilities at the state level. From there, the best 280 gymnasts 8-11 year old athletes were invited to participate in the National TOPs Testing in October, where they were evaluated on the same physical abilities tests and basic gymnastics skills. From National TOPs Testing, 54 athletes were named to the TOPs National Team and invited to participate in the National TOPs Training Camp in December.

The training camps were, without a doubt, the most productive camps in their 19 years of existence and the inclusion of the 8-year-old athletes was a tremendous success.