Chow's
Full nameChow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute
SportWomen's artistic gymnastics
Founded23 August 1998; 25 years ago
LeagueUSA Gymnastics
Based inWest Des Moines, Iowa
OwnerLiang Chow
Head coachLiang Chow

Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute, commonly referred to as Chow's,[1] is an American women's artistic gymnastics academy based in West Des Moines, Iowa. The academy was founded by Chinese former artistic gymnast Liang Chow. One of the country's most prestigious gymnastics academies, the club has produced Olympic champions, Shawn Johnson and Gabrielle Douglas, and several upcoming elites such as Norah Flatley and Rachel Gowey.

History

1998–04: Foundations and the inception of Shawn Johnson

Chow's was opened on August 23, 1998 by former Chinese national gymnast and Iowa Hawkeyes assistant coach, Liang Chow and his wife, Liwen Zhuang.[2]

In 2004, Level 10 protegee, Shawn Johnson, finished fourth at the 2004 J.O. Nationals.[3] As a result, she is the first Chow gymnast to make the J.O. National Team.[4]

2005–07: Level 10 progression and the National rise of Shawn Johnson

At the 2005 Level 9 Eastern Championships, Chow's was represented 3 times.[5][6][7][8] Jessa Hansen won two individual medals also.[9] Although Chow's didn't have any participants at the 2005 Level 10 J.O. Nationals, Shawn Johnson qualified to Junior International Elite status; the first of any Chow gymnast.[10] In her first competition as an elite, the 2005 U.S. Classic, she finished third in the all-around.[11]

As a result, she qualified to U.S. Nationals. At the competition, Johnson finished tenth in the all-around.[12] Her result at the competition was enough to be named to the Junior Natitonal Team – the first of any Chow gymnast.[13] Now a National Team member, she was invited to represent the United States at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. She won the individual all-around competition, storming to win of just under a whole mark difference.[14]

Notable Gymnasts and Alumni

Shawn Johnson:

Gabby Douglas:

Norah Flatley:

Rachel Gowey:

References

  1. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Trailer: New Gymnastics Documentary with Chow's Gymnastics. YouTube.
  2. Park, Alice (26 July 2012). "Liang Chow's Gymnastics Coaching Journey: From Beijing to West des Moines". Time.
  3. http://meetscoresonline.com/Reports.Meet.aspx?mt=10054&sess=1&lvl=10&div=Jr%20A&tax=1
  4. "USA Gymnastics | Women's Past Development Program National Teams".
  5. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/Women/2005/05%20Westerns/05westjra.pdf
  6. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/Women/2005/05%20Westerns/05westjrc.pdf
  7. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/Women/2005/05%20Westerns/05westjrd.pdf
  8. "2005 Level 9 JO Western Championships". MyMeetScores.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  9. "Jessa Hansen, Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute". MyMeetScores.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  10. "GymDivas.Us". gymdivas.us. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_05classic.pdf
  12. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/nationals_artistic_2005.pdf Archived 2015-09-21 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "USA Gymnastics | Women's Past Junior National Teams". Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  14. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_06pacalliance_jraa.pdf

41°33′19″N 93°44′11″W / 41.5553°N 93.7364°W / 41.5553; -93.7364

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