Samantha Peszek      Birth Date: 12/14/1991 Program: Women's Artistic Level: Senior Residence: McCordsville, IN Club: Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy Coach: Marvin Sharp Biography Peszek won a team silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team. She was a member of the 2007 World Championships and the 2007 Pan American Games Teams that claimed the team gold medals. The 2007 World Championships Team was named the U.S. Olympic Committee's Team of the Year for 2007. She placed third in the all-around at both the 2008 Tyson American Cup and the 2008 Italy-Spain-Poland-USA competition. Peszek was named the 2007 TOPs Athlete of the Year. Peszek is the oldest daughter of Ed and and Luan Peszek, both of whom were athletes at the University of Illinois. Her mother was a collegiate gymnast who now works at USA Gymnastics as the publications director, and her dad was a collegiate wrestler and hockey player who now coaches hockey and works at an environmental firm. Peszek has a younger sister, Jessica (13), who is a Level 10 gymnast. Peszek is a member of the National Honor Society at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Ind. Peszek will attend UCLA upon graduating from high school in 2010. Personal Information Hometown: McCordsville, IN Began Gymnastics In: 1993 How did you get involved?: My mom enrolled me in gymnastics when I was young. Favorite Gymnastics Thing: My favorite thing about gymnastics is traveling to all the different competitions and competing with athletes from other countries. Favorite Event: Beam Goals: I want to win medals while competing internationally, and then go to college and do gymnastics. School: Cathedral High School Grade: 12th (Fall '09) Favorite School Subject: Composition Interests Outside the Gym Favorite Music/Book: All types Favorite TV Show: Gossip Girl and 90210 Favorite Food: Sushi Hobbies: Boating, tubing, shopping Other Sports Involvement: I played soccer when I was younger and ran track. Charity: My school requires me to do 100 hours of community service before I graduate, so I am involved in a lot of projects. National Competition Results 2009 Visa Championships, Dallas, Texas: 2nd-BB; 7th-FX 2009 CoverGirl Classic, Des Moines, Iowa: 2nd-VT 2008 Visa Championships, Boston, Mass.: 4th-AA; 5th-BB; 6th-UB; 10th-FX 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, Philadelphia, Pa.: 2nd-FX(T); 4th-AA, VT, BB; 6th-UB 2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif.: 7th-AA; 9th-BB; 10th-UB, FX 2006 Visa Championships, St. Paul, Minn.: 2nd-VT; 3rd-AA, UB; 5th-FX; 7th-BB(T) (Jr. Div) 2006 U.S. Classic, Kansas City, Kan.: 1st-FX, VT; 2nd-AA, BB; 4th-UB (Jr. Div) 2005 Visa Championships, Indianapolis, Ind.: 1st-VT; 2nd-FX; 7th-AA (Jr. Div) 2005 U.S. Classic, Virginia Beach, Va.: 2nd-VT; 3rd-FX; 8th-AA; 9th-BB (Jr. Div) 2004 Visa Championships, Nashville, Tenn.: 3rd-VT; 8th-AA; 9th-FX; 10th-UB (Jr. Div) 2004 Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla.: 2nd-AA, VT, UB, BB; 7th-FX 2004 U.S. Classic, Rochester, N.Y.: 7th-VT; 10th-FX; 11th-AA (Jr. Div) International Competition Results 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China: 2nd-Team 2008 Tyson American Cup, New York, N.Y.: 3rd-AA 2008 Italy-Spain-Poland-USA competition, Jesolo, Italy: 1st-Team; 3rd-AA 2007 World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany: 1st-Team 2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 1st-Team 2007 Tyson American Cup, Jacksonville, Fla.: 2007 USA vs Great Britain International Competition, Lisburn, Ireland: 1st-Team, FX, VT; 2nd-BB; 3rd-AA 2006 Junior Pan American Championships, Gatineau, Que., Canada: 1st-Team, FX; 2nd-VT; 4th-AA (Jr. Div) 2006 International Gymnix, Montreal, Que., Canada: 1st-AA, VT, BB; 3rd-UB 2005 Mexican International Invitational, Cancun, Mexico: 1st-Team, AA, VT, FX 2004 USA/Canada, Houston, Texas: 1st-Team LEGEND: AA = All Around | VT = Vault | UB = Uneven Bars | BB = Balance Bean | FX = Floor Exercise | (T) = Tie