The level of gymnastics in our country has improved incredibly in the past few years and there is a wealth of amazing talent. While we feature these gymnasts daily, we wanted to take a look behind these athletes at the top clubs and coaches. 

 

Who is the best elite gym in the country? The answer is subjective so we want you to weigh in in our poll and in our comments section below. Tell us who is the best and back it up!

 

Editor’s picks:

5. Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy

CGA coach Mary Lee Tracy is one of the top coaches in the US and her gym has a prestigious history noting back to the 1996 Olympics with CGA gymnasts Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps. She's coached numerous Olympic gymnasts and over 25 national team members. She is dedicated to and invested in her athletes and explains that she coaches for more than just the medals. Amy Wert also coaches the elite team and Tracy has numerous staff members that play a role in the elites' development.

 

Notable Names:

Past

-Amanda Borden: 1996 Olympian, 6 time National Team member

-Jaycie Phelps: 1996 Olympian, 5 time National Team member
-Ashley Priess: 2006 World Championships team member, University of Alabama gymnast

-Amanda Jetter: 4 time National Team member, University of Alabama gymnast

-Lexie Priessman: 4 time National Team member, future LSU gymnast

Now

-Amelia Hundley: 3 year junior National Team member

-Emily Gaskins: junior National Team member

4. Great American Gymnastics Express

Al Fong has been the owner, operator, and head coach at GAGE for over 30 years. Fong developed a ruthless reputation in his early days but his coaching style has changed dramatically. Former gymnast Armine Barutyan joined the coaching staff in the mid 90s and the coaching duo seems to have the perfect balance. Since then, they have continually produced national team members and had two members on the 2004 Olympic Team. 
 

Notable Names

Past

-Courtney McCool: 2004 Olympic team member, 3 time National Team member

-Terin Humphrey: 2004 Olympic team member, 7 time National Team member

-Sarah Shire: 4 time National Team member, University of Missouri gymnast

-Sarah DeMeo: 3 time National Team member, University of Alabama gymnast

-Ivana Hong: 2 time world team member, Stanford gymnast

Now

-Sarah Finnegan: 3 time National Team member

-Maddie Desch: senior National Team member

-Brenna Dowell: senior National Team member, 2013 World Team member

 

3. World Olympic Gymnastics Academy

 

WOGA became a gymnastics household name after Carly Patterson won the Olympic all-around gold in 2004 and four years later teammate Nastia Liukin won the same elusive Olympic all-around gold. Patterson was coached by Yevgeny Marchenko and Natasha Boyarskaya. Liukin was coached by her father Valeri Liukin. WOGA has a strong developmental program and a large team of succesful optional gymnasts. 
 

Notable Names:

Past
-Hollie Vise: 2003 World team member & UB champion
-Nina Kim: 4 time National Team member, Utah gymnast
-Carly Patterson: 2004 Olympic all-around champion

-Nastia Liukin: 2008 Olympic all-around champion

-Rebecca Bross: 6 time World medalist, 2009 World silver in all-around

-Ivana Hong: 2 time World team member, Stanford gymnast

Now
-Katelyn Ohashi: 4 time National Team member, 

-Alyssa Baumann: junior National Team member, future Univeristy of Florida gymnast
-Madison Kocian: senior National Team member, future UCLA gymnast

2. Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute

Liang Chow opened Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute in August of 1998. 10 years later in August of 2008, he was the head coach of the Beijing Olympics team where his gymnast Shawn Johnson won the silver all-around medal and gold on beam. Martha Karolyi has stated that Chow is one of her favorite coaches and his demeanor has made him a fan favorite coach as well. While he doesn't have a large elite team like some gyms, his elites are all top notch.

 

Notable Names

Past
-Shawn Johnson: 2008 Olympic beam champion and all-around silver medalist, 
Now

-Gabby Douglas: 2012 Olympic all-around champion

-Norah Flatley: junior National Team member

-Rachel Gowey: senior National Team member
-Alexis Vasquez: junior elite

1. Texas Dreams

This is relatively new gym and opened in 2001 by Kim Zmeskal-Burdette and her husband Chris Burdette. Kim was an extremely successful elite gymnast herself and has the advantage of using her personal experience when coaching these gymnasts. She was trained by Bela Karolyi as well as other coaches including Mary Lee Tracy. While Texas Dreams has not produced any Olympic team members YET, the talent and potential is definitely there. This gym has the largest elite team in the country and is home to reigning junior National Champion Bailie Key. Kim and Chris focused on creating a strong developmental program and it has really shown the past few years. 

 

Notable names:

Past 

-Chelsea Davis: Georgia gymnast, 3 year National Team Member, 2012 Olympic Team Trials

-Kennedy Baker: Florida gymnast, 4 year National Team Member, 2012 Olympic Team Trials

Now
-Bailie Key: junior reigning National Champion
-Peyton Ernst: senior National Team member, future Universtity of Florida gymnast

-Nica Hults: junior National Team member, future UCLA gymnast

-Ragan Smith: junior National Team member