:: USA Gymnastics :: Women's Artistic Gymnastics

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, May 12, 2008 – The USA dominated the competition at the 2008 Friendship International Exchange, May 11-12, at the Women’s National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas, winning a total of 11 medals, four gold, four silver and three bronze. They swept the medals in the all-around, balance beam and floor exercise.

2007 team world champion Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo., won the all-around title with a 60.650 total. 2006 team world silver-medalist Ashley Priess of Hamilton, Ohio, was second at 59.050, followed by 2005 all-around world champ Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., in third with a 58.500. Mattie Larson of Los Angeles was fourth at 57.600.

2007 world team champion Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., won the titles on both the balance beam and floor exercise. On beam, Sacramone won with a 15.600, followed by Priess and Hong at 15.300, who tied for second. Sacramone’s 15.500 on floor earned her the title. Larson was second at 15.200 and Darling Hill of Mt. Laurel, N.J., was third at 15.100.

Memmel took top honors on the uneven bars with a 16.000. Priess was second at 15.800, with Italy’s Paola Galante in third at 15.300. Canada swept the vault, with Alyssa Brown in first, Aisha Gerber second and Sydney Sawa third. The USA did not compete in the individual finals on vault.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.

2008 Friendship International Exchange Competition
Huntsville, Texas
May 11-12, 2008

All-around
1. Ivana Hong, USA, 60.650
2. Ashley Priess, USA, 59.050
3. Chellsie Memmel, USA, 58.500
4. Mattie Larson, USA, 57.600
5. Paola Galante, Italy, 57.400
6. Corrie Lothrop, USA, 57.200
7. Emma Willis, Canada, 55.950
8. Natalia Sanchez, Colombia, 55.800
9. Sydney Sawa, Canada, 55.050
10. Jenny Brunner, Germany, 54.750
11. Serena Licchetta, Italy, 54.000
12. Catherine Dion, Canada, 52.300
13. Luisa Leal, Colombia, 50.350

Individual events

Vault
1. Alyssa Brown, Canada, 14.075
2. Aisha Gerber, Canada, 14.025
3. Sydney Sawa, Canada, 13.875

Uneven bars
1. Chellsie Memmel, USA, 16.000
2. Ashley Priess, USA, 15.800
3. Paola Galante, Italy, 15.300
4. Ivana Hong, USA, 15.200
5. Jenny Brunner, Germany, 14.750
6. Mattie Larson, USA, 14.600
7. Corrie Lothrop, USA, 14.400
8. Joeline Mobius, Germany, 14.050
9. Serena Licchetta, Italy, 13.400
10. Natalia Sanchez, Colombia, 13.100
11. Jessica Lopez, Venezuela, 12.000

Balance beam
1. Alicia Sacramone, USA, 15.600
2. Ashley Priess, USA, 15.300
2. Ivana Hong, USA, 15.300
4. Natalia Sanchez, Colombia, 14.950
5. Chellsie Memmel, USA, 14.800
6. Corrie Lothrop, USA, 14.600
6. Emma Willis, Canada, 14.600
8. Darling Hill, USA, 14.350
9. Paola Galante, Italy, 14.250
9. Joeline Mobius, Germany, 14.250
11. Catherine Dion, Canada, 13.650
11. Jessica Lopez, Venezuela, 13.650
13. Alyssa Brown, Canada, 13.600
14. Luisa Leal, Colombia, 13.450
15. Jenny Brunner, Germany, 12.900

Floor exercise
1. Alicia Sacramone, USA, 15.500
2. Mattie Larson, USA, 15.200
3. Darling Hill, USA, 15.100
4. Serena Licchetta, Italy, 14.050
5. Sydney Sawa, Canada, 14.000
6. Jessica Lopez, Venezuela, 13.700
6. Emma Willis, Canada, 13.700