Laura Zeng

Laura Yihan Zeng (曽昳晗; Zeng Yi-Han; born October 14, 1999) is an American individual rhythmic gymnast. She is a 2016 Rio Olympian, 2015 Pan American Games all-around champion and 2014 Youth Olympic all-around bronze medalist.[4] She is also a multi-time medalist in world-cup competitions and the World University Games. At the national level, she is the five-time (2015–19) U.S. national all-around champion and two-time (2013–14) U.S. junior all-around national champion.[5]

Laura Zeng
Zeng in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in April 2019
Personal information
Full nameLaura Yihan Zeng
Country represented United States
Born (1999-10-14) October 14, 1999
Hartford, Connecticut, United States
HometownLibertyville, Illinois
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
ClubNorth Shore Rhythmics
Head coach(es)Natalia Klimouk
Assistant coach(es)Angelina Yovcheva
World ranking10 (2019 Worlds) [1]
8 (2018 Worlds) [1]
6 (2017 Worlds) [2]
11 (2016 Olympics)[3]
8 (2015 Worlds) [1]
Medal record
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
2015 Toronto All-around
2015 Toronto Hoop
2015 Toronto Ball
2015 Toronto Ribbon
2015 Toronto Clubs
Pan American Championships
2018 Lima Team
2018 Lima All-around
2018 Lima Hoop
2018 Lima Ball
2018 Lima Clubs
2018 Lima Ribbon
Summer Universiade
2019 NaplesAll-around
Youth Olympic Games
2014 Nanjing All-around

Personal life

Laura Zeng was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Libertyville, Illinois, where she attended Libertyville High School.[6] Her parents immigrated from China. After first studying Chinese dance and ballet, Zeng started rhythmic gymnastics at age 7 after her friend told her about it. Her older sister, Yecca Zeng (曾瞱昕) is a fashion designer at Victoria's Secret.[7] Her favorite motto is: "Work hard and work smart". She doesn't seem to have a particularly favorite rhythmic gymnast as a role model.[8] She represented team USA in 2016 Rio Olympics Games as sole individual rhythmic gymnast when she was a high school sophomore.[9] In 2018, Laura graduated from high school as a National Merit Scholar Finalist and committed to Yale University. She is currently at the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center for the 2020 Summer Olympics, taking gap years at a local community college.

Career

Junior

Zeng appeared in international competitions in 2012, she won the gold in ribbon and silver in all-around at the 2012 Junior Pacific Rim Championships behind Canada's Patricia Bezzoubenko and won bronze in all-around at the 2012 Junior World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 2013, Zeng competed at the Gymnastik Schmiden International winning gold in all-around, hoop, clubs, ribbon and bronze in ball. She also won bronze medal as one-person team at junior World Cup at Lisbon. She won her first junior title at the 2013 US Junior National championships.

In 2014, Zeng started her season competing at the 2014 Rhythmic Challenge winning the all-around and the four event finals. She competed at the World Cup series in Lisboa, Pesaro and Minsk, she won numerous bronze and silver medals in the all-around, event finals and team competitions. At the 2014 Junior Pan American Championships, Zeng swept all gold medals (all-around, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) and won USA a spot in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games; Later on, Zeng defended her junior title at the 2014 US Junior National championships, placing 1st (all-around, hoop, ball), 2nd (clubs), 3rd (ribbon). Zeng was selected as the sole representative of United States at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. She placed second in the qualification[10] and went on to take the all-around bronze in the finals with a total score of 56.750, just two hundredths behind Belarus’ Mariya Trubach who took the silver medal.[11] Zeng's medal marks the first rhythmic gymnastics medal for the U.S. at an Olympic or Youth Olympic Games.

2015: Rio Olympic Games Qualification

Moscow Grand Prix: In February 2015, Zeng made her senior and international debut competing at the 2015 Moscow Grand Prix finishing 21st in the all-around.

USA Challenge: On March 6–7, Laura won 2015 Challenge Championship participated only by USA national team members.

Lisboa World Cup: On March 27–29, Zeng competed at the 2015 Lisboa World Cup finishing 14th in the all-around.

Pesaro World Cup: On April 10–12, she placed 11th in all-around among 56 competitors with a score of 68.40 at 2015 Pesaro World Cup in Italy. She also made Ribbon finals.

Corbeil-Essonnes Tournament: On May 8–10, she competed at the Corbeil-Essonnes International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament and finished 3rd in all-around behind Russians Arina Averina and Dina Averina, she qualified to 3 event finals and won silver in clubs, bronze in ball and placed 4th in ribbon.

USA Nationals: On June 25–27, Zeng won the all-around title as a first year senior in USA Nationals 2015 ahead of Jasmine Kerber. In apparatus finals, she won in Hoop, Clubs, and Ribbon titles.

Pan American Games: At the 2015 Pan American Games on July 15–20, Zeng swept the gold in the all-around with a total score of 64.575 points and all the apparatus finals,[12] becoming the second American to win the all-around and all the apparatus finals at the Pan American Games since Mary Sanders in 2003.[13][14] Zeng was the most decorated athlete for the Pan Am Toronto.[15]

Sofia World Cup: On August 14–16, Zeng finished 15th in the all-around at the 2015 Sofia World Cup behind Spanish veteran gymnast Carolina Rodriguez with a score of 68.750.

Kazan World Cup: At the 2015 World Cup Final in Kazan, Zeng finished 10th in the all-around and qualified in ball finals finishing in 8th place.

Stuttgart World Championships: On September 9–13, Zeng competed in her first World Championships in Stuttgart and ranked 11th in qualifications. Zeng qualified to 1 apparatus final finishing 7th in Clubs ahead of Korean Son Yeon-Jae. In the all-around finals; Zeng finished 8th with a total of 70.416 points, the highest finish for an American rhythmic gymnast, bettering the 10th place from Mary Sanders in the 2003 World Championships.[16] As a result, Zeng qualifies USA an individual spot in 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

2016: Olympic Games in Rio

Lisboa World Cup: On March 17–20 of the 2016 Olympic season, Zeng competed at the 2016 Lisboa World Cup where she finished 7th in the all-around with a total of 70.150 points and qualified to 3 event finals placing 8th in clubs, hoop and 5th in ball.

Pesaro World Cup: On April 1–3, Zeng competed at the 2016 Pesaro World Cup where she finished 19th in the all-around and qualified to clubs final finishing in 7th place.[17]

Minsk World Cup: On May 20–22, Zeng competed at the 2016 Minsk World Cup finishing 7th in the all-around with a total of 70.850 points, she qualified to 3 apparatus finals where she became the first American in history to win a medal in a World Cup series taking 2 bronze medals (hoop: 18.050, ribbon: 18.050) and placed 4th in ball.[18] Besides, this marked only the third time a country from the Americas finished on the podium at the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, after Canada in 1990 and Brazil in 2013.

USA Nationals: Later on 11-12 of June, Zeng won her second consecutive Nationals all-around title. She was also first in Hoop, Ball, Ribbon and second in Clubs.

Kazan World Cup: On July 8–10, Zeng then finished 11th in the all-around at the 2016 Kazan World Cup with a total of 70.900 points, she qualified to 3 apparatus finals in hoop (6th), clubs (5th) and ribbon (5th).

Baku World Cup: On July 22–24, culminating the World Cup of the season in 2016 Baku World Cup, Zeng finished 11th in the all-around with a total of 70.350 points behind Azerbeijian's Marina Durunda, Zeng qualified to 3 apparatus finals placing 5th in hoop, clubs and 6th in ribbon.

Rio Olympic Games: On August 19–20, Zeng competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She finished 11th in the qualifications behind France's Kseniya Moustafaeva, narrowly missing the Top 10 in the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final. Zeng's finish is the best for U.S. rhythmic gymnast since Valerie Zimring tied for 11th at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.[19]

2017: New Code in Post-Rio-Olympic-Games

Pesaro World Cup: In 2017 season, Zeng's first international competition after the Rio Olympic Games was at the 2017 Pesaro World Cup, and she finished 4th in all-around behind Belarus' Katsiaryna Halkina. She qualified all four event finals and earned her third and fourth career bronze medals for hoop and clubs in a World Cup series. She also finished 7th in ball and ribbon.[20]

MTM Ljubljana Tournament: She then participated at the MTM Ljubljana International Tournament, Zeng earned 68.150 points and won the all-around gold medal. In event finals, She also took gold in clubs, hoop and ribbon and a bronze medal for ball.[21]

Guadalajara World Challenge Cup:On June 2–4, Zeng competed at the 2017 World Challenge Guadalajara Cup finishing 10th in the all-around, she qualified in 2 apparatus finals: placed 6th in ball and 5th in ribbon.

USA Nationals: At the 2017 USA Nationals held on June 27 – July 2, Zeng secured her third consecutive senior National all-around title. She scored 68.552 in preliminary all-around and 69.800 in finals. She also won first in Clubs, second in Hoop, Ribbon and third in Ball.

World Games: Zeng competed at the quadrennial 2017 World Games which was held in Wrocław, Poland from July 20–30, she qualified in 3 apparatus finals finishing 5th in clubs and 7th in ball and ribbon.

Kazan World Challenge Cup: On August 11–13, Zeng competed at the 2017 Kazan World Challenge Cup finishing 11th in the all-around behind Italy's Alexandra Agiurgiuculese.

Pesaro World Championships: On Aug 30 - Sep 1 at the 2017 World Championships in Pesaro, Italy, Zeng finished 6th in the all-around besting her own 8th in 2015 Worlds as the best American gymnast record. She also made three apparatus finals where she finished fifth in clubs and ribbon and sixth in ball finals, which also marks the American records for both event finals participation and placement.

2018: Continued Code Changes for Open Difficulties

Baku World Cup: On April 27–29 in 2018 season, Zeng competed in Baku World Cup, where she finished 5th in the all-around with a score of 64.55 behind Bulgaria's Katrin Taseva. Zeng won a bronze medal in the hoop final, she also qualified in clubs and ball finals; finishing in fifth and eighth separately.

USA Nationals: In July 2018, Zeng competed and won USA Nationals AA title, which she has done in four consecutive years. She is the first USA gymnast to accomplish the feat in 40 years since Sue Soffe did it in 1979.[22][23] She also won Hoop, Clubs and Ribbon titles.

World Challenge Cup: In preparation for World Championship, Zeng participated in Minsk World Challenge Cup (8/17-19), and Kazan World Challenge Cup (8/24-26). She finished in all-around 14th and 9th separately with scores of 66.400 and 69.150.

Sofia World Championships: On Sept. 10-14 2018 World Championships, Zeng was tenth in all-around qualification with best 3 of 4 routines. In the AA finals, Zeng finished eighth with a score of 73.250. She didn't make any event finals but was reserves for hoop, ball and clubs. This was third straight world championships when Zeng made top ten in the all-around.

Pan American Championships: On Sept. 29-Oct 1, Zeng competed Pan American Championships with teammates Lili Muzuno and Nastasya Generalova. Zeng won AA gold with a score of 71.80 ahead of Mexcico's Marina Malpica. USA also won team gold to secure full team for 2019 Pan American Games. Zeng also swept four event golds in finals.

Laura graduated in May 2018 from high school and committed to Yale University. She decided to take gap years and take courses at College of Lake County in Illinois while training at her home gym. On December 19, USADA announced Zeng was suspended for six months due to a doping violation detected during a drug test on October 18, 2018. She took a banned substance acetazolamide through a high altitude medicine prescribed to her parent believing it was ibuprofen.[24] In a formal statement, Zeng stated it was during a family vacation to Machu Picchu, Peru.[25]

2019: Tokyo Olympic Games Qualification

Tashkent World Cup: On April 19–21 in 2019 season, Zeng started her very first competition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she finished 8th in the all-around with a score of 70.55. Zeng made two event finals with ball and clubs and reserve for ribbon, finished in sixth and eighth separately. This year's first three World Cup scores have shown unusual variations, indicating continued uncertainty of COP (Code of Point) implementations by judges.

Baku World Cup: On April 26–28 in her second competition of the season, Zeng finished 19th in the all-around with a score of 71.35. Zeng made hoop final and finished in third with a bronze medal. As a result, she has won at least one medal in each world cup series every year since the beginning of this Olympics cycle.

Guadalajara World Challenge Cup: In the consecutive third week, Zeng competed in the first of 2019 World Challenge Cup Series in Spain on May 3–5. Zeng finished 6th in the all-around with a score of 75.00. Zeng made hoop, ball and clubs finals and finished in 4th, 5th and 8th respectively. The World Challenge Cup series are set up by FIG(Federation of International Gymnastics) to follow-up to the World Cup Series(April) and prepare for World Championships(September).

Brno Grand Prix: On June 7–9 in Brno, Czech Republic, Zeng took bronze in the hoop final and 5th in the ribbon final. She scored 75.75 in all-around and finished tenth.

USA Nationals: On July 2–6 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, Zeng won her 5th straight all-around national title with preliminary score of 77.40 and final score of 78.45. She also won first in Hoop, Ball, Clubs events, and third in Ribbon.

World University Games 2019: On July 11–13, Zeng competed at Napoli World Universiade 2019 in Italy. She won Bronze in all-around with a score of 72.60. She also qualified for 3-event finals in Hoop, Ball and Clubs. She finished fourth in all the event finals.

Portimao World Challenge Cup: On Sep 6–9, Zeng competed the world challenge cup in Portugal. She finished sixth in all-around with a score of 78.10 behind Ukrine's Yeva Meleshchuk. She also qualified for 3-event finals in Hoop, Ball and Clubs. She ended up 7th in all with a score of 20.65(Hoop), 20.30(Ball) and 19.80(Clubs).

Baku World Championships: On Sep 16–21, Zeng competed her 4th World Championships in Azerbaijian. She finished 13th in qualification all-around with a score of 62.50 behind Belarussia's Anastasiia Salos and three Russian gymnasts, with individual scores of 20.7(Hoop), 20.40(Ball), 21.15(Clubs) and 19.40(Ribbons). She qualified for ribbon finals and resulted in 5th. In the all-around finals, Zeng finished 10th behind Bulgaria's Taseva Katrin with a score of 81.850 (Hoop 21.20, Ball 20.70, Clubs 21.30 and Ribbon 18.65).

As a result, Zeng earned one of two spots along with her teammate for USA for the 2021 Summer Olympics. She also won the prestige Longines Prize for Elegance for the championships.

Achievements
  • First Non-European gymnast to win Longines Prize for Elegance since 1997 when the Prize started.
  • First American rhythmic gymnast to qualify for two Olympic Games.
  • First and only American rhythmic gymnast to win a medal at the World University Games (2019 Napoli Universiade).
  • First American rhythmic gymnast to win a medal at the World Cup series (Minsk 2016, Pesaro 2017, Baku 2018, Baku 2019).
  • First and only American rhythmic gymnast to win a medal at the Youth Olympic Games (Nanjing 2014).
  • 2013–2019 USA all-around national champion (2013-14 junior, 2015-19 senior).
  • Swept all five gold medals in Toronto Pan American Games in 2015. She was the most decorated athlete for the game.
  • In Rio Olympic Games in 2016, she finished 11th, which tied the best performance by an American in an Olympics, missing finals by 1/10th point.
  • She holds the best All-Around finish in a World Championship by an American ever. She was 6th in the 2017 World Championships in Pesaro, besting her own record of 8th in the 2015 World Championships in Stuttgart.
  • First American rhythmic gymnast to qualify for three event finals in a world championship (clubs, ribbon, and ball in 2017 Worlds).
  • She holds best event finals finish by an American in a world championship (5th in ribbon and ball in 2017 Worlds and 5th in ribbon in 2019 Worlds).
  • She holds the best team finish in a World Championship by any American team ever. She, along with Evita Griskenas and Camilla Feeley, finished 7th in the 2018 World Championships in Sofia, and 2019 Worlds in Baku.

Routine music information
Year Apparatus Music title [26]
2018 Hoop Magic Monkey Juice by Younger Brother
Ball They Don't Care About Us by Michael Jackson
Clubs Funky Monkey by Siedah Garrett, Carlinhos Brown, MichaelMutt, Davi Vieira
Ribbon Kairos by Derek Hough ft., Lindsey Stirling
2017 Hoop Earth Song by Michael Jackson
Ball Si Un Jour by Natasha Marsh
Clubs Games of Throne Title Theme by Ramin Djawadi
Ribbon Divine Moments Of Truth (Original Mix) by Shpongle
2016 Hoop Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor for Piano, Op.27:2 (Moonlight): 3. Presto Agitato by Jeno Jando, Georgii Cherkin
Ball Feeling Good by Jennifer Hudson
Clubs Boléro by Maurice Ravel
Ribbon Chez Les Yéyé (Boogalox Re-Work) by Serge Gainsbourg
2015 Hoop Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor for Piano, Op.27:2 (Moonlight): 3. Presto Agitato by Jeno Jando, Georgii Cherkin
Ball Tango by Dianne Reeves
Clubs Hip Hip Chin Chin by Club Des Belugas
Ribbon Zambra by Ojos De Brujo, Juno Reactor

References
  1. "FIG World standings for rhythmic gymnastics" (PDF). International Federation of Gymnastics. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  2. "FIG World standings for rhythmic gymnastics". International Federation of Gymnastics. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  3. "FIG World standings for rhythmic gymnastics" (PDF). International Federation of Gymnastics. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  4. "For Laura Zeng, Youth Olympic Medal Was Just One Step On Rhythmic Gymnastics Ladder". Team USA. June 24, 2014.
  5. "Libertyville's Laura Zeng repeats at USA Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships". Libertyville Suntimes.
  6. Team USA: "Laura Zeng" retrieved July 18, 2016
  7. "Libertyville, Lincolnshire gymnasts find winning rhythm". Daily Herald. September 12, 2013.
  8. "Who is... Laura Zeng". NBC Olympics. March 22, 2016.
  9. "Libertyville's Laura Zeng honored after return from Rio". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  10. "Passion keeps Rhythmic gymnast Laura Zeng spinning towards success". International Federation of Gymnastics. August 26, 2014.
  11. "Laura Zeng Hopes To Lead Rhythmic Revolution". TEAM USA. August 27, 2014.
  12. "Five gold medals for Laura Zeng in rhythmic gymnastics at Pan Am Games". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  13. "Zeng completes gold medal sweep at Pan Ams". USA Gymnastics. July 20, 2015.
  14. "Local rhythmic gymnasts make history in sport". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  15. "Mikulak, Zeng nominated for Team USA's Best of July Award". August 3, 2015.
  16. "Libertyville's Laura Zeng appears headed for 2016 Summer Olympics". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  17. "Kudryavtseva the boss in Pesaro". International Federation of Gymnastics. April 4, 2016.
  18. "Zeng wins two bronze medals at Minsk World Cup". NBC Olympics. May 22, 2016.
  19. "Zeng finishes 11th in rhythmic gymnastics at 2016 Olympic Games". USA Gymnastics. August 19, 2016.
  20. "Zeng wins two bronze at Pesaro World Cup". USA Gymnastics.
  21. "Zeng wins four gold medals at MTM Ljubljana International Tournament". USA Gymnastics.
  22. "Zeng's good luck rituals deliver fourth straight all-around title". USA Gymnastics. July 7, 2018.
  23. "Unstoppable Laura Zeng Is First Rhythmic Gymnast To Win 4 U.S. All-Around Titles In Nearly 40 Years". Team USA. July 8, 2018.
  24. "Laura Zeng Accepts Doping Sanction | USADA". U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  25. "Zeng receives six-month USADA suspension".
  26. "Zeng RG music list". rgforum.
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