Einstein's Olivia Green Wins World Acrobatic Gymnastics Silver Medal

By Jocelyn Kay

This summer, senior Olivia Green represented the United States of America at the World Games in China. She competes in acrobatic gymnastics and is a two-time world silver medalist. 

Green started acrobatic gymnastics at 11 years old, after doing artistic gymnastics and dance in earlier years. She “wanted a combo of the two,” gymnastics and dance, so she started Acro. Acrobatic Gymnastics is a form of competitive gymnastics that combines the balancing aspects of artistic gymnastics with dance and tumbling elements. It is often performed in duos, trios, or quads, allowing for more complex execution of skills. This year, she attended the Acrobatic World Games in Chengdu, China. 

She prepared for up to “30 hours a week,” or six hours a day, “for almost the entire summer,” she said, for this competition. She also attended five-hour practices after school every day for all of high school. She competed in these international competitions and long practice days while maintaining her school work and GPA. Green is a perfect example of a thriving student-athlete, showing that you can be internationally competitive and still have a normal teenage life.

She attended the Acrobatic National Championships in June, before attending the July World Cup series in Poland. Green and her two partners, Rebecca Greenberg and Caylei Caldwell, secured the Bronze Medal in Poland before going to China. Their trio won silver on the international stage after preparing all summer for the games.

Green is a “top,” a gymnastics position involving handstands balanced upon her two partners' hands. Caldwell and Greenburg are “bases,” a gymnastics supporting role that suspends Green in the air. In China, the trio scored a 28.670 in their routine, securing them second place after China and ahead of Israel in third place. 

“It’s an honor to be able to represent the United States of America in the World Games,” Green said. “A lot of the time, people don't know what acrobatic gymnastics is, so it’s a little bit unfortunate that the sport doesn't get the recognition it deserves.” Green advocates for acrobatic gymnastics to become an Olympic sport. “I do really wish it had more recognition and would go into the Olympics someday,” Green stated.

After her triumphant return home, Green is starting her senior year and is currently a coach to other young athletes within acrobatic gymnastics. She hopes to continue her connection to the sport and help future US teams compete at an international level.