Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center
Encyclopedia
Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center, or Parkettes for short, is a gymnastics club located in Allentown, Pennsylvania
that had its beginnings in the early 1960s with a middle school gymnastics program in Allentown that gradually grew into an intramural program and then into a facility that has produced several teams and individual gymnasts representing the United States
, the Czech Republic
, and Canada
in international meets, including the Olympic Games
.
The husband and wife team Bill Strauss and Donna Strauss have served as the head coaches at Parkettes since its inception.
), 2nd (Hope Spivey) and 4th (Alyssa Solomon) places at the United States National Gymnastics Championships.
At the 1988 Olympic Games
, Parkettes-trained gymnast Hope Spivey represented the United States.
In 1992, Parkettes' gymnast Kim Kelly caused a considerable controversy in that after she was selected for the 1992 Olympic
gymnastics training squad, she was then not selected for the competition team extremely close to the opening of the games.
In 1998 and 1999, Kristen Maloney
won the United States National senior All-Around gold. In 2000, she competed at the Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
Kristal Uzelac
won the United States Junior National All-Around gold in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
In 2002, Vanessa Meloche
, a Canadian gymnast at Parkettes, finished third at the Canadian championships and first on the uneven bars.
produced a documentary, Achieving the Perfect 10
, which contained some criticisms of the demanding and competitive nature of Parkettes' training program. In 2008, Jennifer Sey
, the 1986 National Champion from Parkettes, published a book, Chalked Up, which was critical of Parkettes and elite gymnastics.
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
that had its beginnings in the early 1960s with a middle school gymnastics program in Allentown that gradually grew into an intramural program and then into a facility that has produced several teams and individual gymnasts representing the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, and 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...
in international meets, including the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
The husband and wife team Bill Strauss and Donna Strauss have served as the head coaches at Parkettes since its inception.
History
In 1986, Parkettes' gymnasts took the 1st (Jennifer SeyJennifer Sey
Jennifer Sey is an American writer, producer and former gymnast. She began competing in the sport of gymnastics at the age of six and went on to become 1986 National Gymnastics Champion and seven-time national team member...
), 2nd (Hope Spivey) and 4th (Alyssa Solomon) places at the United States National Gymnastics Championships.
At the 1988 Olympic Games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, Parkettes-trained gymnast Hope Spivey represented the United States.
In 1992, Parkettes' gymnast Kim Kelly caused a considerable controversy in that after she was selected for the 1992 Olympic
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
gymnastics training squad, she was then not selected for the competition team extremely close to the opening of the games.
In 1998 and 1999, Kristen Maloney
Kristen Maloney
Kristin Ann Maloney , also known as Kristen Maloney, is a retired gymnast from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, United States, who was coached by Jack Carter in the 2000 Olympics and won bronze in the Team Event. Maloney was also the U.S...
won the United States National senior All-Around gold. In 2000, she competed at the Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
Kristal Uzelac
Kristal Uzelac
Kristal Dawn Uzelac is a retired American gymnast. She was considered to be one of the United States' most promising junior gymnasts in the late 1990s, and was the U.S. junior all-around National Champion for three consecutive years....
won the United States Junior National All-Around gold in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
In 2002, Vanessa Meloche
Vanessa Meloche
Vanessa Meloche is a Canadian gymnast and 2002 Canadian National Uneven Bars Champion.During most of her competitive career, Vanessa trained at Parkettes in Allentown, Pennsylvania....
, a Canadian gymnast at Parkettes, finished third at the Canadian championships and first on the uneven bars.
Media coverage
In 2003, CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
produced a documentary, Achieving the Perfect 10
Achieving The Perfect 10
Achieving The Perfect 10, is a made for CNN documentary movie released on August 10, 2003, about young girls training gymnastics at the highly competitive Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
, which contained some criticisms of the demanding and competitive nature of Parkettes' training program. In 2008, Jennifer Sey
Jennifer Sey
Jennifer Sey is an American writer, producer and former gymnast. She began competing in the sport of gymnastics at the age of six and went on to become 1986 National Gymnastics Champion and seven-time national team member...
, the 1986 National Champion from Parkettes, published a book, Chalked Up, which was critical of Parkettes and elite gymnastics.
Notable alumni
- Kristen MaloneyKristen MaloneyKristin Ann Maloney , also known as Kristen Maloney, is a retired gymnast from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, United States, who was coached by Jack Carter in the 2000 Olympics and won bronze in the Team Event. Maloney was also the U.S...
, former U.S. Olympian bronze medal winner - Vanessa MelocheVanessa MelocheVanessa Meloche is a Canadian gymnast and 2002 Canadian National Uneven Bars Champion.During most of her competitive career, Vanessa trained at Parkettes in Allentown, Pennsylvania....
, Canadian uneven bars champion - Kristie PhillipsKristie PhillipsKristie Phillips-Bannister , formerly known as Kristie Phillips, is a retired American elite gymnast. The 1987 senior U.S. National Champion and one of the American team's strongest and most visible competitors in the mid-1980s, Phillips was considered to be one of the front-runners for the 1988...
, former U.S. National Gymnastics Champion - Jennifer SeyJennifer SeyJennifer Sey is an American writer, producer and former gymnast. She began competing in the sport of gymnastics at the age of six and went on to become 1986 National Gymnastics Champion and seven-time national team member...
, former U.S. National Gymnastics Champion - Geralen Stack-Eaton, former U.S. National Team Member, 2011 NCAA Floor Champion
- Kristal UzelacKristal UzelacKristal Dawn Uzelac is a retired American gymnast. She was considered to be one of the United States' most promising junior gymnasts in the late 1990s, and was the U.S. junior all-around National Champion for three consecutive years....
, former U.S. Junior National Gymnastics Champion