Ashley Miles
Encyclopedia
Ashley Miles is a retired gymnast who competed for the U.S. women’s artistic gymnastics team at the 2001 World Gymnastics Championships
in Ghent
, Belgium
. The U.S. women won the bronze medal in the team event at 2001 Worlds, and Miles qualified to the vault final, where she finished eighth.
, Miles was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1997–98 and 1999–2001, and she was a member of the Senior National Team from 2001-03.
At her first U.S. Junior National Championships in Denver, Colorado
in 1997, Miles placed second on vault and 10th all-around.
Miles placed eighth on vault and 21st all-around at 1998 Junior Nationals in Indianapolis
, Indiana
.
In 1999, she placed second on vault, ninth on balance beam and 12th all-around at 1999 Junior Nationals in Sacramento
, California
.
She also placed fourth all-around and fifth on beam at the Japan Junior International Championships.
At 2000 Junior Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri
, Miles placed third on vault and 13th all-around.
As a first-year senior, Miles was named to the 2001 U.S. World Championship team following her fifth-place finish in the all-around at the 2001 U.S. Senior National Gymnastics Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, where she also tied for second place on vault and fourth place on uneven bars.
The next year, she placed third on vault and ninth all-around at 2002 Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio
.
Miles also won the all-around and balance beam at the 2002 Spring Cup in Toronto
, Canada
, where she placed second on vault and floor exercise. The U.S. women also captured the team title.
As an elite athlete, Miles trained with coaches Michael Harris at HUGS Gymnastics in Boerne, Texas and with Kimberly and Steve Waples of South Texas Gymnastics Academy.
During her college career, Miles captured the NCAA national vault titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and she won the national floor exercise title in 2004.
Miles was named the National Collegiate Gymnast of the Year for 2006, and she also was a recipient of the Honda Award for top NCAA athletes.
World Gymnastics Championships
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique organises World Gymnastics Championships for each of the gymnastic disciplines:...
in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The U.S. women won the bronze medal in the team event at 2001 Worlds, and Miles qualified to the vault final, where she finished eighth.
Elite career
A native of San Antonio, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Miles was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1997–98 and 1999–2001, and she was a member of the Senior National Team from 2001-03.
At her first U.S. Junior National Championships in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1997, Miles placed second on vault and 10th all-around.
Miles placed eighth on vault and 21st all-around at 1998 Junior Nationals in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
In 1999, she placed second on vault, ninth on balance beam and 12th all-around at 1999 Junior Nationals in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
She also placed fourth all-around and fifth on beam at the Japan Junior International Championships.
At 2000 Junior Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Miles placed third on vault and 13th all-around.
As a first-year senior, Miles was named to the 2001 U.S. World Championship team following her fifth-place finish in the all-around at the 2001 U.S. Senior National Gymnastics Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, where she also tied for second place on vault and fourth place on uneven bars.
The next year, she placed third on vault and ninth all-around at 2002 Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Miles also won the all-around and balance beam at the 2002 Spring Cup in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where she placed second on vault and floor exercise. The U.S. women also captured the team title.
As an elite athlete, Miles trained with coaches Michael Harris at HUGS Gymnastics in Boerne, Texas and with Kimberly and Steve Waples of South Texas Gymnastics Academy.
Collegiate career
Following her elite career, Miles accepted a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Alabama.During her college career, Miles captured the NCAA national vault titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and she won the national floor exercise title in 2004.
Miles was named the National Collegiate Gymnast of the Year for 2006, and she also was a recipient of the Honda Award for top NCAA athletes.