IWGA Athlete of the Month July 2015
Congratulations to Laura Zeng (15), IWGA Athlete of the Month for July 2015. The US American rhythmic gymnast swept gold five times at the Pan-American Games in Toronto.
She won the all-around title in Toronto as a first year senior. In apparatus finals, she achieved the Hoop, Ball, Clubs and Ribbon titles. At the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China she was the all-around bronze medalist. Laura Zeng, born in Libertyville, Illinois, made her senior debut this year, competing at the 2015 Moscow Grand Prix in February.
Laura Zeng: One to watch in Rhythmic Gymnastics
For 15-year-old Laura Zeng, the biggest American hope for Rhythmic Gymnastics at the upcoming World Championships in Stuttgart in September, the future is looking very bright.
Zeng made history for the U.S. at last summer's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing (CHN), becoming the first-ever American to win an Olympic or Youth Olympic medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics. She's been on a winning streak ever since, capturing multiple titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships this year and sweeping the competition at the Pan-American Games in Toronto in July, something only one other American woman has ever accomplished.
Next up for Zeng are the World Championships, which will be her first. A good performance there could earn the United States a place in the individual competition at the Rio Olympic Games, a spot Zeng would be a favorite to take so long as she keeps doing what she's been doing.
Zeng's Rhythmic career took off almost as soon as it began. As an eight-year-old trying Rhythmic after several years of Chinese dance lessons, she won a national title at her level and realized the possibilities the sport held as she was standing on the medal podium.
In spite of the numerous international accolades she's already racked up, Zeng doesn't consider herself a veteran. "Every competition is a different experience," she says.
That goes for the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw as well, where Zeng could get the opportunity to earn medals in each of the four Rhythmic disciplines: Hoop, Ball, Clubs and Ribbon.
Find more about Rhythmic Gymnastics on The World Games Channel.