Legendre, USA to Compete in Australia

April 28, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma junior Steven Legendre will compete as a member of the USA Men's Gymnastics Team on April 28 at the 2010 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships at Hisense Arena in Melbourne, Australia.

“It is going to be a good international meet for Steven to gain experience,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. “It is a little bit different format by having the juniors be a part of the meet but everything has gone well so far in the preparations.”

The Pacific Rim Championships is a major regional biennial gymnastics competition. It is open to teams from member nations of the Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastics Federations. U.S. Senior National Team members will be competing alongside members of the U.S. Junior National Team as well.

Male gymnasts from China, the United States, Canada, Russia and host Australia are among the 10 countries that will square off in the men's team and all-around competition.

Competing in his fifth international event, Legendre will look to medal on two of his strongest events, floor exercise and vault, after being the floor national champion and All-American on vault at the 2010 NCAA Championships.

“This summer, Steven will be training to make the Japan Cup team and then the VISA Championships,” added Williams. “He will be working hard to put himself in the position to make the national team and hopefully have some other international opportunities.”

In his last national competition, Legendre finished eighth in the event finals on the floor exercise with a score of 14.950 at the 2009 World Championships in London, Great Britain. The six-time NCAA national champion has had previous success in his career at the 2009 Japan Cup, placing third on vault.

The U.S. Team includes Legendre, Christopher Cameron of the University of Michigan, Danell Leyva of Miami/Universal Sports and juniors Dylan Akers of Cypress Gymnastics, C.J. Maestas of Gold Cup Gymnastics and John Orozco of World Cup Gymnastics.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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