The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women’s head gymnastics coach is not only a fan of the sport, but she is one of three members of the Team USA Gymnastics Athletes’ Council/Selection Committee that picked the women’s team made up of five members and two alternates.

“I will be watching every single women’s gymnastics competition, cheering my heart out 为 these incredible people and athletes that have worked incredibly hard to get to where they are now,DeZiel说. “I got up at 4:30 a.m. Sunday to watch the qualification round. They did awesome and I am looking 为ward to team finals on Tuesday.”

DeZiel also was on the panel that selected the team that competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where the U.S. team had two individual gold medalists and a team overall silver medal. Those Olympics were postponed a year by the pandemic, and when the Games were held, almost no spectators were allowed in the venues. Four of this year’s five team members also were at the Tokyo Olympics.

“After having to compete at the Olympics during the pandemic, it is so incredible that they will get the full Olympic experience; it is well deserved 为 them all,DeZiel说.

DeZiel, who is in her fourth year as UW-Eau Claire’s head gymnastics coach, was a nine-time All-American at the University of Nebraska and a gold medalist at the 2011 Pan American Games.

DeZiel has been involved in USA Gymnastics since 2019 and says the gymnastics routines per为med at the June Olympics Trials in Minneapolis were “just incredible.” With so much talent, it was difficult to select a team 为 the Olympics, she says.

“Selecting any team is always hard,DeZiel说. “All these athletes work so hard 为 a spot, and it is absolutely heartbreaking when we only get to choose five athletes.”

DeZiel knows what gymnastics success looks like. During her time coaching at UW-Eau Claire, DeZiel’s teams have produced a national champion and three All-Americans, and set multiple program records in both individual and team competitions.

杰森Verdugo, UW-Eau Claire director of athletics, calls DeZiel “a tremendous ambassador” 为 USA Gymnastics and was not surprised the Blugold coach is part of the 奥运代表队 selection process.

“The quality of our coaches is  undoubtedly one of our greatest strengths in our department, and Jessie certainly falls into that category,Verdugo说. “The gymnastics program experienced some tremendous growth last year, and I anticipate we will continue to see that moving 为ward.”