Shayla Worley
Encyclopedia
Shayla Worley is an American
gymnast
. She was a member of the gold medal-winning American team at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
. She has been training at Orlando Metro Gymnastics where she is coached by Jeff Wood and Christi Barineau, since she was a Level 6 gymnast. Worley is currently competing at the University of Georgia
, the 10 time NCAA champions.
In 2002, Worley became a junior national elite, one step below the elite level; today, it is referred to as pre-elite. She won the all-around title at the American Challenge, and also placed well at the U.S. Challenge.
She advanced to junior international elite in 2003. At the U.S. Classic, Worley placed high enough to qualify to the U.S. National Championships. A few weeks later, she competed at the U.S. National Championships, where she finished fourth all-around. This also gained her a spot on the United States National Gymnastics Team.
Worley continued on competing as a junior elite in 2004. She helped the U.S. win in a dual meet against Japan
, and at the American Classic, she finished fourth all-around and again qualified to the U.S. National Championships. A few weeks later, she was named to the Pacific Alliance Team, finishing fourth all-around at the Pacific Alliance Championships. She also competed at the U.S. Classic, where she placed second all-around. In the fall, she won the all-around at the USA versus Japan
meet and was named to the Junior Pan Am Games team, but could not compete because of a back injury.
Worley's final year as a junior was 2005. She started off her season at the International Tri Meet, which the United States won. She also went on the European tour, which included meets against lower-ranked Great Britain
and Switzerland
; the U.S. won both. Her next competition was the U.S. Classic. A potential winner, she finished fourth all-around after falling on floor. At the U.S. Nations one month later, a fall on bars kept her down in the standings on day one. She battled back and tallied the highest all-around score on day two, eventually finishing third overall behind Natasha Kelley
. In her final meet of the season, the Massilia Cup, Worley only competed on bars, finishing second.
. Next, she competed at the Pacific Alliance Championships, where she finished second on bars, making her the highest-placed American, and helping the U.S. win the team title.
A hamstring injury prevented Worley from taking part in further competition in 2006. As a national team member who had scored well in the first half of the year, she had hopes of being named to the U.S. team for the World Championships
in Aarhus
, Denmark
, but her injury had not gotten better, so she was unable to compete.
She was ready in time for the 2007 American Cup, but a fall on her uneven bars dismount meant she narrowly missed qualifying for finals; she would have done so easily without this error. Worley was also selected to compete in the Britain v. USA dual match held in Lisburn
, Northern Ireland
on St. Patrick's Day. There were no errors this time, and in the absence of the world's top two bars competitors, Britain
's Beth Tweddle
and American teammate Nastia Liukin
, Worley took the bars title, and also finished second all-around. During the US Classic she only competed bars and beam. Unfortently her grip ripped during the middle of her bad routine, she did end up placing second on beam though. After the Visa Championships, in which she finished runner-up to Shawn Johnson
, and was also second on Uneven Bars, she was selected to represent the U.S. in the World Championships in Stuttgart
, Germany
.
At the World Championships, Worley and Team USA finished first overall in team qualifying, about four points ahead of the nearest team, China. Worley qualified 8th overall for the all-around competition, but because of rules permitting only two competitors per country, she was excluded since Liukin and Johnson qualified ahead of her. Worley also finished in the top eight on balance beam, but the two-athlete rule again caused her elimination from the event final. During the team finals, Worley competed on bars and floor, earning 15.575 and 14.675 respectively. The scores contributed to the U.S. total of 184.400, which earned the gold medal.
In 2008, Worley competed at the American Cup with a first-place finish in vault and bars. She then traveled to Boston, Massachusetts
for the VISA National Championships, but had to pull out after aggravating a herniated disc in training the month before, resulting in her requiring four ice baths a day to soothe it by the time of the trials. She successfully petitioned to attend the Olympic trials, where she placed 14th all-around without competing on floor exercise. Worley was then invited to the final training camp in Texas
, but ultimately was not chosen as an Olympic team member due to a broken leg. She then soon decided to retire from elite gymnastics.
in Orlando. Outside of gymnastics, she has competed in speech oration contests; has modeled for Disney, Tupperware
, and Lands' End
; and has done commercials for Disney and Universal
.
At the end of 2008, after retiring from elite level gymnastics, Worley committed to NCAA-level gymnastics with the University of Georgia Gymdogs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gymnast
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
. She was a member of the gold medal-winning American team at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 40th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, Germany, from 1 to 9 September 2007.Oldest and youngest competitors- Men :- Women :- Finals :- Qualifications :- Floor :...
. She has been training at Orlando Metro Gymnastics where she is coached by Jeff Wood and Christi Barineau, since she was a Level 6 gymnast. Worley is currently competing at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, the 10 time NCAA champions.
Junior career
Worley competed at Level 9 in 2001, placing first in the all-around competition at the Florida State Championships. Her final meet of the season was the Level 9 Eastern Championships, the highest meet to which a Level 9 gymnast can advance, where she placed second all-around. Worley finished off the junior Olympic levels by placing second all-around at the 2002 Level 10 Florida State Championships.In 2002, Worley became a junior national elite, one step below the elite level; today, it is referred to as pre-elite. She won the all-around title at the American Challenge, and also placed well at the U.S. Challenge.
She advanced to junior international elite in 2003. At the U.S. Classic, Worley placed high enough to qualify to the U.S. National Championships. A few weeks later, she competed at the U.S. National Championships, where she finished fourth all-around. This also gained her a spot on the United States National Gymnastics Team.
Worley continued on competing as a junior elite in 2004. She helped the U.S. win in a dual meet against Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and at the American Classic, she finished fourth all-around and again qualified to the U.S. National Championships. A few weeks later, she was named to the Pacific Alliance Team, finishing fourth all-around at the Pacific Alliance Championships. She also competed at the U.S. Classic, where she placed second all-around. In the fall, she won the all-around at the USA versus Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
meet and was named to the Junior Pan Am Games team, but could not compete because of a back injury.
Worley's final year as a junior was 2005. She started off her season at the International Tri Meet, which the United States won. She also went on the European tour, which included meets against lower-ranked Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
; the U.S. won both. Her next competition was the U.S. Classic. A potential winner, she finished fourth all-around after falling on floor. At the U.S. Nations one month later, a fall on bars kept her down in the standings on day one. She battled back and tallied the highest all-around score on day two, eventually finishing third overall behind Natasha Kelley
Natasha Kelley
Natasha Kelley is an American gymnast. Currently residing in Texas, she trains at Stars Gymnastics but has announced she will no longer compete as an elite athlete, but rather will plan to compete in collegiate competition soon. Kelley was a member of the silver medal winning U.S...
. In her final meet of the season, the Massilia Cup, Worley only competed on bars, finishing second.
Senior career
Worley turned senior in 2006. Her first senior outing was the American Cup, where she finished second all-around behind Nastia LiukinNastia Liukin
Anastasia Valeryevna "Nastia" Liukin is a Russian-American artistic gymnast. She was the 2008 Olympic individual all-around Champion, the 2005 and 2007 World Champion on the balance beam, and the 2005 World Champion on the uneven bars...
. Next, she competed at the Pacific Alliance Championships, where she finished second on bars, making her the highest-placed American, and helping the U.S. win the team title.
A hamstring injury prevented Worley from taking part in further competition in 2006. As a national team member who had scored well in the first half of the year, she had hopes of being named to the U.S. team for the World Championships
2006 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
39th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held in Aarhus, Denmark from October 13 to October 21, 2006 in NRGi Arena.It was the first time the World Gymnastics Championships was organized by a Danish city...
in Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, but her injury had not gotten better, so she was unable to compete.
She was ready in time for the 2007 American Cup, but a fall on her uneven bars dismount meant she narrowly missed qualifying for finals; she would have done so easily without this error. Worley was also selected to compete in the Britain v. USA dual match held in Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
on St. Patrick's Day. There were no errors this time, and in the absence of the world's top two bars competitors, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Beth Tweddle
Beth Tweddle
Elizabeth "Beth" Kimberly Tweddle MBE is an English gymnast. Tweddle is a three time world champion having won the 2010 World Championships and 2006 World Championshipson the uneven bars and the 2009 World Championships on the floor...
and American teammate Nastia Liukin
Nastia Liukin
Anastasia Valeryevna "Nastia" Liukin is a Russian-American artistic gymnast. She was the 2008 Olympic individual all-around Champion, the 2005 and 2007 World Champion on the balance beam, and the 2005 World Champion on the uneven bars...
, Worley took the bars title, and also finished second all-around. During the US Classic she only competed bars and beam. Unfortently her grip ripped during the middle of her bad routine, she did end up placing second on beam though. After the Visa Championships, in which she finished runner-up to Shawn Johnson
Shawn Johnson
Shawn Machel Johnson is an American artistic gymnast. She was the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and all-around, and floor exercise silver medalist, the 2007 all-around World Champion, and the 2007 and 2008 U.S. all-around champion...
, and was also second on Uneven Bars, she was selected to represent the U.S. in the World Championships in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
At the World Championships, Worley and Team USA finished first overall in team qualifying, about four points ahead of the nearest team, China. Worley qualified 8th overall for the all-around competition, but because of rules permitting only two competitors per country, she was excluded since Liukin and Johnson qualified ahead of her. Worley also finished in the top eight on balance beam, but the two-athlete rule again caused her elimination from the event final. During the team finals, Worley competed on bars and floor, earning 15.575 and 14.675 respectively. The scores contributed to the U.S. total of 184.400, which earned the gold medal.
In 2008, Worley competed at the American Cup with a first-place finish in vault and bars. She then traveled to Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
for the VISA National Championships, but had to pull out after aggravating a herniated disc in training the month before, resulting in her requiring four ice baths a day to soothe it by the time of the trials. She successfully petitioned to attend the Olympic trials, where she placed 14th all-around without competing on floor exercise. Worley was then invited to the final training camp in Texas
Texas
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...
, but ultimately was not chosen as an Olympic team member due to a broken leg. She then soon decided to retire from elite gymnastics.
Personal life
Worley attended William R. Boone High SchoolWilliam R. Boone High School
William R. Boone High School is a public high school in Orlando, Florida, United States. Built in 1952, the school is one of twenty high schools in the Orange County Public Schools system, created to accommodate the growing number of students at Orlando High School...
in Orlando. Outside of gymnastics, she has competed in speech oration contests; has modeled for Disney, Tupperware
Tupperware
Tupperware is the name of a home products line that includes preparation, storage, containment, and serving products for the kitchen and home, which were first introduced to the public in 1946....
, and Lands' End
Lands' End
Lands' End is a clothing retailer based in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, that specializes in casual clothing, luggage, and home furnishings. The majority of Lands' End's business is conducted through mail order and Internet sales, but the company also runs more than a dozen retail operations, primarily in...
; and has done commercials for Disney and Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
.
At the end of 2008, after retiring from elite level gymnastics, Worley committed to NCAA-level gymnastics with the University of Georgia Gymdogs.
2008 season
| Year | Competition Description | Location | Apparatus | Rank-Final | Score-Final | Rank-Qualifying | Score-Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | U.S. Olympic Trials | Philadelphia | Vault | 11 (Tie) | |||
| Uneven Bars | 11 | ||||||
| Balance Beam | 7 | ||||||
| American Cup | New York | All Around | 4 | 60.400 | |||
2007 season
| Year | Competition Description | Location | Apparatus | Rank-Final | Score-Final | Rank-Qualifying | Score-Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | World Championships 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 40th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, Germany, from 1 to 9 September 2007.Oldest and youngest competitors- Men :- Women :- Finals :- Qualifications :- Floor :... |
Stuttgart | Team | 1 | 184.400 | 1 | 245.025 |
| All Around | 8 | 60.075 | |||||
| Uneven Bars | 21 | 15.000 | |||||
| Balance Beam | 8 | 15.775 | |||||
| Floor Exercise | 11 | 14.650 | |||||
| U.S. Championships | San Jose | All Around | 2 | 120.200 | |||
| Uneven Bars | 2 | ||||||
| Balance Beam | 4 | ||||||
| Floor Exercise | 4 | ||||||
| U.S. Classic | Battle Creek, MI | Uneven Bars | 13 | 12.950 | |||
| Balance Beam | 2 | 15.500 | |||||
| USA vs. Great Britain | Lisburn, Northern Ireland | Team | 1 | ||||
| All Around | 2 | ||||||
| Uneven Bars | 1 | ||||||
| American Cup | Jacksonville | All Around | 3 | 60.700 | |||
2006 season
| Year | Competition Description | Location | Apparatus | Rank-Final | Score-Final | Rank-Qualifying | Score-Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Pacific Alliance Championships | Honolulu | Team | 1 | 183.150 | ||
| Uneven Bars | 2 | 15.400 | 2 | 15.550 | |||
| American Cup | Philadelphia | All Around | 2 | 59.775 | 2 | 60.000 | |
2005 season
| Year | Competition Description | Location | Apparatus | Rank-Final | Score-Final | Rank-Qualifying | Score-Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Massilia Gym Cup | Marseille | Team | 2 | |||
| Uneven Bars | 2 | ||||||
| International Team Challenge | Long Island, NY | Team | 1 | ||||