Rancho Santa Fe resident wins two Gold Medals at USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships

RSF resident KJ Newman, 11, won two Gold Medals in trampoline at the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships held July 4-8 in Long Beach, Calif. More than 2,000 athletes competed at the Championships.

KJ Newman teamed with Gabriel Garon, age 13, of Carmel Valley to win the Gold Medal and National Championship for synchronized trampoline in the 13-14-year-old age group (level 10). They competed in the 13-14 age group, despite the fact that KJ is only 11 years old because Gabriel is 13 years old.

KJ Newman then went on to win an individual Gold Medal and National Championship for double-mini trampoline in the 11-12 year old age group (level 9).

KJ Newman competes for the gym SoCal TTC in Poway, and Gabriel Garon competes for the gym Bounce California in Rancho Bernardo. They are good friends and have competed together for two years, winning a Silver Medal at the 2011 Junior Olympic National Championships held in San Antonio, Texas.

A video of KJ Newman in competition can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU2s00yTyC4&feature=plcp

The sport of trampolining will be among the events included in competition at the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London.