Lauren Blackwell was born on September 27, 1996. She trained at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics through the 2008 season. She then moved to WOGA. She will graduate from high school in 2015.
In 2006, Lauren competed level five. She finished third on bars at the District Championships. In 2008, Lauren competed level seven. She finished eleventh all-around at the North State Championships, qualifying for the State Championships in the silver division. She moved up to level eight in 2009. She finished first on floor at the Texas Prime meet. Lauren won vault, bars and the all-around at the Great West Gym Fest. She finished second all-around at the Byers Invitational. Lauren had a solid meet at the State Championships. At Regionals, she finished 14th all-around.
Lauren began competing level nine in 2010. She finished in the top ten at the Metroplex Challenge and Houston National Invitational. Lauren finished in the top twenty at both the State and Regional Championships. In 2011 as a second-year level 9 gymnast, she finished second in the all-around and first on uneven bars at the IGI Chicago Style. At the WOGA Classic, she placed third in the all-around and second on uneven bars with a 9.500. Lauren won gold medals on floor exercise and in the all-around at the Houston National Invitational. At the Level 9 State Championships, Lauren finished seventh in the all-around with a 37.025 and second on uneven bars scoring a 9.500. She qualified to the Level 9 Western Nationals after finishing ninth in the all-around. She was the Level 9 Regional Uneven Bars Champion with a 9.600! At the Nationals in San Diego, California, Lauren finished 16th in the all-around and eighth on uneven bars. She began competing level ten in 2012. She competed on bars and beam at the Texas Prime Meet and Houston National Invitational.
Lauren is currently recovering from a knee injury and is preparing for the upcoming 2013 season as a level 10 gymnast.
Photos © Ruth Judson
