Photo Courtesy: www.atler.com - USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Inductee Kristen Maloney of Dover, N.H.
Five athletes and one coach comprise the2011 class of inductees for the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame: 1972 Olympian Jim Culhane of Tomball, Texas (men's gymnastics); six-time world tumbling champion Jill Hollembeak of Chicago; 1992 Olympian Tamara Levinson of Los Angeles (rhythmic gymnastics); 2000 Olympic team bronze-medalists Kristen Maloney of Dover, N.H., and Elise Ray of Reisterstown, Md., and 1988 Olympian Chelle Stack of Clermont, Fla. (women's gymnastics); and coach Stacy Maloney of New Berlin, Wis., who coached 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm and his twin brother Morgan, both of whom competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
"Congratulations to the 2011 inductees, who are being recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to gymnastics," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "Their contributions over the years have helped weave the rich tapestry of USA Gymnastics."
The 2011 USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 19, as part of the USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show in Saint Paul, Minn., which is held in conjunction with the 2011 Visa Championships. Ticket and other information on the luncheon and induction ceremony will be available at www.usagym.org/hof.
The USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1959.
Members of the 2011 USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame class
James "Jim" Culhane, men's gymnastics. Culhane, who competed for 19 years (1957-76), was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and the 1971 Pan American Games Team. His international experience also included competing in dual meets against the Soviet Union, Hungary, China, Romania and Germany. He finished seventh at the 1968 Olympic Trials. He competed in the AAU and U.S. Gymnastics Federation national championships from 1965-75 and was a member of the U.S. National Team for 11 years. Culhane competed in collegiate gymnastics for Pennsylvania State University from 1962-65, winning the team championship in 1965. He went on to graduate school at Southern Connecticut State College. He served as an assistant coach at both Southern Connecticut and the U.S. Military Academy, as well as the head women's coach at East Stroudsburg State College and California State University at Northridge. He is a retired teacher and currently teaches boys gymnastics at Texas Star Gymnastics. He most recently helped set a world record for the largest formation of Skydivers over Sixty.
Jill Hollembeak, tumbling. Hollembeak, who trained at the Gymnastics Academy of Rockford (Ill.), had a successful national and international tumbling career. In power tumbling, she was a three-time World champion (1982, 1984 and 1986); three-time member of a U.S. Team that won the World team title (1982, 1984 and 1986); and five-time national champion (1982-86). In platform tumbling, Hollembeak was a five-time World medalist (1983-87) and U.S. champion (1983-87). She earned a gymnastics scholarship to Illinois State University and was Athlete of the Year for the 1990-91 school year. She also received the Laurie Mabry Award in 1991. Hollembeak
