Blue Valley High product Leanne Wong shares gold medal at U.S. Gymnastics Championships

Konnor McClain won the senior women’s all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday evening at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

McClain’s combined eight-rotation score of 112.750 earned her the all-around gold medal, and she also claimed gold on the balance beam. Shilese Jones took the all-around silver and Jordan Chiles bronze. Kayla DiCello placed fourth and Jade Carey fifth.

Blue Valley High School grad and world all-around silver medalist Leanne Wong, who will compete for the Florida Gators, shared gold on the uneven bars with Jones, while Carey won her second gold in the vault competition.

Wong was one of several gymnasts from veteran coach Al Fong’s Blue Springs-based GAGE program who participated at nationals. Also taking part in the 2022 edition of America’s championships were Amelia Disidore, a rising high school sophomore from Overland Park, and Blue Springs South High junior-to-be Marissa Neal. A fourth Kansas City-area gymnast, Malea Milton, competed in the junior division.

The men’s competition in Tampa concluded on Saturday, with 2020 Olympian Brody Malone successfully defending his all-around title. Malone was dominant in taking gold for the all-around, horizontal bar and floor exercise.

World bronze medalist Donnell Whittenburg finished second in the all-around (and first in the still rings), and Asher Hong (gold in vault) earned the all-around bronze medal. Fred Richard was fourth overall and Yul Moldauer rounded out the top five. Stephen Nedorosci earned gold in apparatus, Curran Phillip in parallel bars.

The men’s and women’s senior and senior development teams were selected at the conclusion of the weekend competition. Those athletes will hold spots on the national teams through the 2023 Winter Cup.