Katelyn Ohashi Covers Inside Gymnastics February Issue

Gymnast Katelyn Ohashi is the featured cover girl for the February issue of Inside Gymnastics. Katelyn is a junior international elite gymnast from WOGA. On the cover of the February issue of Inside Gymnastics Katelyn looks breath taken with her amazing flexibility.

About Katelyn:
FULL NAME
Katelyn Michelle Ohashi
BIRTHDAY
April 12, 1997
BIRTHPLACE
Seattle, Washington
RESIDENCE
Plano, Texas
PARENTS
Richard and Diana Ohashi
SIBLINGS
Ryan, Kyle and Kalen
SCHOOL
Homeschool
GRADE
10th (2012-2013)

At the age of three, Katelyn began taking gymnastics classes at Gymnastics East and quickly progressed in the sport. At the beginning of her gymnastics career, Katelyn trained under coaches Susan Brown and Kim Thompson until 2006.

In 2004, Katelyn was competing as a level 4 gymnast. She placed second in the all-around and first on uneven bars and floor exercise at the Mystery Classic. At the Desert Devils Classic, she finished fourth in the all-around and third on floor exercise. She then won four bronze medals at the Level 4 State Championships. Katelyn began her level 5 season in 2005 at the Cancun Classic in Mexico where she won the all-around title as well as first on uneven bars and balance beam. That same year, she won the all-around title at the Level 5 State Championships. In 2006, Katelyn trained shortly at Auburn Gymnastics with Brent and Peter. When she was at Auburn Gymnastics, she finished second in the all-around at the Level 7 State Championships.

After the 2006 season concluded, Katelyn moved to Blue Springs, Missouri to train at Great American Gymnastics Express under coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong. Katelyn began competing as a level 8 gymnast in 2007. She finished first in the all-around at Hall of Fame Invitational. She finished fourth in the all-around and first on uneven bars at Level 8 State Championships. This qualified Katelyn to the Level 8 Regionals where she won the all-around title.

Katelyn began her 2008 season as a level 9 gymnast at the Dragon Invitational where she won the all-around title as well as first on floor exercise. At the Level 9 State Championships, she grabbed three gold medals on uneven bars, balance beam and in the all-around. She then won another all-around title at the Level 9 Regionals. She also won three gold medals on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. At the Level 9
Western Championships, Katelyn finished first overall in a very tough group of competitors. She also grabbed three more medals; gold medals on uneven bars exercise and a bronze medal on balance beam.

 Two photographs of Katelyn's 2012 performances

In 2009, Kately started her season by winning the all-around title at the Dragon Invitational. At the end of February, Katelyn and her GAGE teammates traveled to Florida for the Palm Beach Elite Qualifier. On the first day, Katelyn passed compulsories, a portion of elite testing. On the next day in optionals, she finished second on balance beam and floor exercise. Katelyn returned to level 10 for three more meets. At the Level 10 State Championships, Katelyn won the all-around title and placed first on vault, uneven bars and balance beam. She then placed second in the all-around and first on floor exercise at the Level 10 Regionals and qualified to the Junior Olympic Nationals. A few weeks later, Katelyn traveled to Washington for the JO Nationals where she placed fourth in the all-around and first on floor exercise. There, Katelyn made the Junior Olympic National Team. In June, Katelyn qualified to junior international elite status and to the US Classic after placing second in the all-around and first on balance beam at the Parkette National Elite Qualifier in Allentown, PA. Katelyn then traveled to Des Moines, Iowa for the US Classic. She easily qualified to the Junior VISA Championships after placing ninth in the all-around with a 55.050. At the Junior VISA Championships in Dallas, Texas, Katelyn finished tenth in the all-around, second on floor exercise and sixth on balance beam. This qualified Katelyn to the Junior US National Team! Right after the VISA Championships, Katelyn moved to World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) to train under coach Valeri Liukin.

Katelyn began her 2010 season at the US Covergirl Classic in Chicago, IL where she placed second in the all-around and first on floor exercise. A few weeks later, she traveled to Hartford, CT for the Junior VISA Championships. There, she placed second in the all-around, first on uneven bars, fourth on floor exercise and fifth on balance beam. She made the Junior US National Team for the second time. In December, Katelyn was selected to represent the USA Team at the Bumbo Cup in South Africa. She brought home five medals, gold medals on vault, floor exercise and in the all-around and silver medals on uneven bars and balance beam.

In February of 2011, Katelyn placed first on uneven bars, balance beam and in the all-around title at the WOGA Classic in the international session for juniors. In March, Katelyn was selected to represent the USA team at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy. She helped the USA team to win the team title ahead of Russia and Italy. Individually, she placed third in the all-around, first on floor exercise and second on uneven bars. Katelyn traveled to Chicago, IL for the US Covergirl Classic where she finished third in the all-around and first on uneven bars. In August, Katelyn did really well at the Junior VISA Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota where she placed first on uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise. She made the Junior US National Team again.

 Another two photographs of Katelyn's 2012 performances.

Katelyn started her 2012 season at the WOGA Classic, finishing first on balance beam and in the all-around as well as second on floor exercise. She was selected to represent the USA Junior Team at the Pacific Rim Championships in her hometown in Washington. She helped the USA team to win the team title and won the all-around title on the first day of the meet. On the next day during event finals, she earned gold medals on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. A few weeks later, Katelyn traveled to Italy for the City of Jesolo Trophy where she helped the USA team to win the team title ahead of Italy and Russia. Individually, Katelyn finished first on uneven bars and balance beam. At the end of May, Katelyn competed at the Secret US Classic, finishing first on uneven bars and eighth on balance beam. In June, she placed fifth in the all-around, first on uneven bars and second on balance beam and floor exercise at the VISA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. She made the Junior US National Team.

Currently, Katelyn is a senior international elite gymnast training at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Plano, Texas under coach Valeri Liukin. She would like to represent the USA team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Katelyn Michelle Ohashi was born on April 12, 1997 in Seattle, Washington to Diana and Richard Ohashi. Katelyn is the youngest of four children where she has three older brothers, Ryan, Kyle and Kalen. She is a homeschooled tenth grader. During Katelyn's spare time, she likes shopping and playing her guitar.

Katelyn's accomplishments:
- 2011 US National AA Champion
- 2011 US National UB, BB, FX Champion
- 2011 City of Jesolo: 3rd AA, 2nd UB
- 2011 City of Jesolo Team & FX Champion

- 2010 Bumbo Cup AA Champion
- 2010 US National Team Member
- 2010 US Nationals: 2nd AA, 1st BB

- 2009 US National Team Member
- 2009 US Nationals: 10th AA, 2nd FX
- 2009 Elite Qualifier BB Champion
- 2009 JO National Team Member
- 2009 JO National FX Champion
- 2009 L10 Region 4 FX Champion
- 2009 L10 State AA Champion

- 2008 L9 Western AA Champion
- 2008 L9 Regional AA Champion
- 2008 L9 State AA Champion

- 2007 L8 Regional AA Champion
- 2007 L8 State AA Silver Medalist
- 2005 L5 State AA Champion
- 2004 L4 State AA Champion

Congratulations Katelyn on your cover of the February issue of Inside Gymnastics.