Donna Howell, competes on the beam at the USAIGC National Championship in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Howell, 11, of New Milford, won the Platinum Level all-around championship on July 1.
All of Donna Howell’s hard work paid off on July 1 as she was awarded first place all-around at the USAIGC Gymnastics National Championships held inFort Lauderdale,Fla.
Howell, 11, competing at the Platinum level, won the all-around championships for placing first on beams and bars and second place on vault and floor events.
Howell got started in gymnastics at age four after signing up for a dance class that ended up being cancelled for a lack of interest.
She instead took a tumbling class in Susquehanna, and after the instructor told her mother, Maureen Howell, that she was tumbling circles around 10 and 11 year-olds, she ended up signing up for more advanced classes at Techniques Gymnastics in Windsor, N.Y.
Since then, Howell’s skill has continued to grow at an incredible rate, and she now devotes more than 20 hours per week to the sport.
Her favorite event to compete in is the balance beam.
Howell qualified for the national tournament after being crowned the 2012 New York State Platinum Level all-around champion at a competition held inMedford,N.Y.
Donna Howell, of New Milford, competes in the floor competition at the USAIGC National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In Medford, she took first place on beams, bars and vault and second place in floor competition.
This is also not Howell’s first trip to nationals as she took second place on gold level beams in 2010, third place all around in bronze level in 2009.
She was also the first place all-aroundNew YorkStatechampion at bronze level in 2009.
Coming up next for Howell is her first international meet. She will travel toSouth AfricaOct. 26-27 to showcase her talent on the world stage.
Howell trains at Techniques Gymnastics with coach Angel Vaccaro.
She is the daughter of Victor and Maureen Howell ofNew Milford.
Donna Howell, 11, of New Milford, poses with her gymnastics coach Angel Vaccaro of Techniques Gymnastics in Windsor, N.Y., at the USAIGC National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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