Christina Desiderio

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Christina Lydia Desiderio (born August 22, 2000, in New Jersey) is a retired American artistic gymnast. Desiderio was named to the 2015 U.S. Junior National team, after her performances at the 2015 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships.^[2]

Personal life[]

Christina Lydia Desiderio was born on August 22, 2000, in New Jersey to parents Dominick and Carol (née Noll) Desiderio. She has an older brother, Dominick, who is 2 years older than her, and is a baseball player. She graduated high school a year early.^[3] She lives in Hackettstown and commutes over an hour each day to train at Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown.^[4]

Desiderio started the sport at Giant Gymnastics in Hackettstown and trained at the club until 2010.^[5]

Gymnastics career[]

2012-15: Level 10 and Junior International Elite career[]

Desiderio moved up to Level 10 for the 2012 season. Throughout the season, she placed second in the all-around at States, as well as winning three individual titles.^[6] Later, at Regionals, Christina tied for sixth in the all-around and was the beam and vault champion.^[7] She advanced to J.O.Nationals and was fifty-fourth in the Junior A division.^[8] In 2013, Desiderio competed at States only; winning the vault and floor titles as well as finishing fourth in the all-around.^[9] In June, she participated in a National Elite Qualifier and achieved Junior International Elite status.^[10] She competed at the American Classic at the Karolyi Ranch and was eighth overall.^[11] At the U.S. Classic, Christina finished tenth in the all-around.^[12] She competed at Nationals; finishing thirteenth in the all-around.^[13]

Desiderio competed as an elite throughout the whole 2014 season. She requalified to elite status at the 2014 National Elite Qualifier in San Diego; despite already being qualified.^[14] At the 2014 U.S. Classic, she placed eighth in the all-around.^[15] She was eighteenth in the all-around at Nationals, after a tough competition.^[16] Christina started the 2015 season at the U.S. Classic, where she placed tenth in the all-around and was second on floor.^[17]

On October 7, 2015, she announced her verbal commitment to the LSU Lady Tigers gymnastics program^[18] – starting from the 2018–19 academic year.^[19]

2016: Senior International Elite career[]

In 2016 Christina was named to the National Team and invited to compete for a place on the Olympic Team at the 2016 Olympic Trials.

2017–present: Collegiate career[]

Desiderio graduated from high school a year early as a homeschooler to begin attending Louisiana State University and the LSU Lady Tigers gymnastics team.^[20]

References[]