Shantessa Leilani Pama was born in Kona, Hawaii on March 5, 1991. She currently resides in Dana Point, California. Her parents are Stacey and Shawn. She has a younger sister named Kaili. Shantessa started gymnastics at Kona Aerials. In 1999, she began training at USGTC in California. She soon moved to Gymmax. Shantessa was the 1998 Level 4 State All-Around Champion and won all five gold medals at the 1999 Hawaii State Championships.

In 2002, she competed at the US Challenge as a child national elite. Shantessa won the floor competition. In 2003, she moved up to junior national elite. She won the American Challenge in Boston. At the US Challenge, Shantessa also won. The meet was held in Austin, Texas. In 2004, Shantessa placed first all-around at the American Challenge. She then moved up to junior international elite from junior pre-elite. At the US Classic, she qualified to nationals. At nationals, Shantessa made her first national team!

Shortly after JO Nationals, she qualified to international elite. At the US Classic, she finished tenth all-around. This qualified her for the US National Championships. Samantha placed eighth all-around. She made her first US National Team. In the fall, she competed in a dual meet against Canada. In 2005, Samantha was scheduled to compete in a dual meet with Japan, but an injury forced her out. Her next meet was the US Classic. She finished eighth all-around. At Nationals, Samantha had a few falls but still placed seventh all-around. A month later, she won the all-around title at the Mexico Invite in Cancun. Shantessa took tenth place at the US Classic in 2005. She moved up to fifth at Nationals! A few weeks later, Shantessa placed third all-around at the Cancun Invite.

Her final year as a junior international elite was in 2006. She finished fourth all-around at the Gymnix International and Pacific Alliance. She took the gold on bars at both of those meets. She skipped the US Classic with an illness. Shantessa made her third junior national team in August! Shantessa spent most of the 2007 season out with injuries. She dropped back to level ten in 2008. She competed at the State and Regional Championships. Tessa decided to quit gymnastics in the fall.

Fast Facts Name: Shantessa Pama Birthday: March 5, 1991 Club: GymMax Level: Sr. Int'l Elite Official Website

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS 2004-2006 Junior National Team 2006: Gymnix Int'l 1st Bars 2005: US Nationals- 5th AA 2004: US Nationals- 11th AA 2003, 2004: National Elite Training Squad

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Photos © Lloyd Smith, John Kelly