International Gymnast

Presented by
Sara Skammer
United Sports Academy, Dunmore, Pa.

Called “Skammer-hammer” because of her great work ethic, Sara, 16, hopes to make Level 10 nationals this year. Coached by Bulgarian Olympian Dimitrinka Filipova Raynova, Omar Egas and Ivan Geuretchev, Sara likes floor best. “Gymnastics is such a graceful, beautiful sport,” says Sara, who’s also a diver. “It takes strength, power and everything combined.”

Roni Rabinovitz
Hapoel Tel-Aviv Club, Israel ( www.gymtlv.net)

Roni, 15, is the 2007-08 junior national champion. Coached by Zahava Zissman, Orna Shai and Tamy Eisenberg, she placed 2nd at the ’08 International Championship for juniors in Slovenia, and 2nd at the ’08 Hungarian Open. Her mother, Tali Sirak, was also coached by Zissman. Sirak was the 1985 national champion and competed in two world championships (1983, ’85).

Cassie Cutler
L.A. Valley Gymnastics, Valley Glen, Calif.

Cassie is a 14-year-old Level 7 who is a fast learner and extemely diligent. She works through her fears to achieve her goals, even if it means going home late or enduring many tears of frustration. A former state and sectional champion in her age group, Cassie is an honor-roll student, a Girl Scout, and recently began learning the trapeze!

Jeanette Conrad
Tropical Twisters, Cape Coral, Fla.

Jeanette, 15, is a two-time AAU national champion who won the all-around and beam at 2008 Level 8 regionals. She also helps coach at the gym when she’s not training. “I have coached her for four years, and she is an inspiration to me as a gymnast and a person,” says her coach, Lisa Johnson. “JJ” is also a diver, and recently qualified to her first regionals.