Samantha Peszek was born in McCordsville, Indiana on December 14, 1991. She is the daughter of Ed and Luan. Her sister, Jessica, is a level ten gymnast. Samantha began gymnastics at DeVeau's. She moved in the fall of 2008 after her coach retired. She now trains at Sharp's Gymnastics.

In 2003, Samantha began competing as a level ten. This is the highest level of competition a junior olympic gymnast can achieve. She finished eighth all-around at Regionals, just missing a spot to JO Nationals. In 2004, Samantha started her season by placing second at the Queen City Invite. She won the Battle of the Champions meet. Samantha then took second at the Spirit of the Flame Challenge and Cupids Cup. At Regionals, Samantha finished third all-around! At JO Nationals, she placed second all-around. This qualified her for the JO 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.

Her 2006 season started off in Canada at the Gymnix International. Samantha won the all-around title! She then placed first on vault and beam in event finals. In July, Samantha travelled to Missouri for the US Classic. She placed second all-around! A month later, she competed at the US National Championships. Samantha debuted a double twisting double back. She placed second all-around. A week later, she was back in Canada for the Junior Pan Am Games. She helped the USA win the team title. Individually, she placed first on floor.

She moved up to the senior division in 2007. She competed at the American Cup. She then traveled to Europe for the USA v. Great Britain Meet. She finished third all-around. In event finals, she won vault and floor. In July, she was named to the Pan American Games Team. She competed vault and floor in team finals. Sam struggled on the first day of the US National Championships. She came back strongly on the second day to place seventh all-around. She was named to the World Team. She competed on vault, bars and floor in preliminaries. She vaulted during team finals, helping the United States win the gold medal.

Sam finished third all-around at the 2008 American Cup. Her next meet was the Jesolo Grand Prix in Italy. She finished third all-around. At the US National Championships, she finished fourth all-around. She placed fourth again at the Olympic Trials. Sam was named to the Olympic Team. Unfortunately, an ankle injury during floor warmups limited her to uneven bars during preliminaries. The United States team won a silver medal during team finals. Following the meet, Sam's lifelong coach retired. She moved to Sharp's Gymnastics. Sam committed to UCLA in the fall.

She returned to competition in the summer of 2010. She won a silver medal on vault at the US Classic. Samantha was limited by a torn labrum in her shoulder that kept her out of the all-around. Despite this, she won a silver medal on beam at the US National Championships. She pulled out of the World Selection Camp to have shoulder surgery.

Fast Facts Name: Samantha Peszek Birthday: Dec. 14, 1991 Club: Sharp's Level: Sr. Int'l Elite Official Website

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full Scholarsip to UCLA 2008: Olympic Silver Medalist 2007: World Champion 2006: US Nationals- 3rd AA 2006: US Classic- 2nd AA 2006: Gymnix Int'l Champion 2004: JO Nationals- 2nd AA 2001/2002 TOP National Team Member

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Photos © Samantha Davies, Lloyd Smith & USAG