 |
Since coming on to the senior national scene in 2005, Jana Bieger has made a name for herself as a consistent trickster. Her recent trio of silver medals at the 2006 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark has put her front and center in American gymnastics.
Born November 12, 1989 in Kiel, Germany, Jana was given good genes for gymnastics. Her mother is former West German Olympian (1972, 1976, 1980) Andrea Bieger, who is also Jana’s coach. Jana’s aunt was also a competitive gymnast.
Jana was 7 years old when her family moved to Florida in 1996, because of better job opportunities for her father, a marine consultant. Shortly after moving to the United States, Jana, who lives in Coconut Creek, Florida, began competitive gymnastics at American Twisters Gymnastics Academy in Boca Raton.
Jana’s first major gymnastics accomplishment was in 2000 when she won the all-around title at the Level 9 Nationals. She made the Junior Olympic National Team in 2001 and reached the elite level in 2003. She placed 3rd at the 2004 National Championships in the junior division and duplicated that effort the next year in her first senior National Championships. Fans really took notice of Jana’s unique skill on beam: a back tuck to her knees into a front tuck to her knees. The skill was never named a Bieger, however, and Jana does not compete it anymore.
Jana was named to the 2005 World Championships delegation to Melbourne, Australia, where she competed on uneven bars only. She had good results at international competitions in early 2006, winning three medals at the Cottbus Cup (gold on vault, bronze on bars, silver on beam). She also helped her U.S. win the gold medal at the Pacific Alliance Championships in Hawaii, as well as winning individual gold medals on vault and floor.
At the 2006 National Championships, Bieger placed third for the third year in a row. She also won a silver on vault and bronze on beam. Bieger’s consistency and high skill-level at the National Championships helped put her on the World Championships team. She had a rare break on vault during the team finals in Denmark, but helped the U.S. team win the silver medal behind China. |
|
Jana qualified for the all-around competition, where she had the best performance thus far in her career. She hit every event to win the silver medal. Jana won another silver on floor exercise.
Late in 2006, Jana switched to Park Avenue Gymnastics in Cooper City because their hours were more flexible. Jana then in January 2007 switched to her parents open a 21,000 square-foot gym in Deerfield Beach called Bieger International Gymnastics.
In October 2006, Bieger was a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. team at the World Gymnastics Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. Despite a fall on vault during team finals, she was a key contributor to the US squad, earning scores over 15.000 on her other three apparatus.
In the All-Around competition at 2006 Worlds, Bieger turned in solid performances on all four events to win the silver medal. This result was, however, controversial, due in part to the fact that the gold medalist, Vanessa Ferrari, managed to win her title despite a fall on the balance beam. Additionally, Ferrari and Bruno Grandi, the president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) are from the same country, Italy, raising questions of judging impariality. Both gymnastics fans and officials from other countries, including the head of the Romanian team, Nicolae Forminte, have publicly voiced objections to both the final results and the scoring. USA Gymnastics has yet to take an official stance on the issue.
After the All-Around, Bieger competed in the floor exercise event final, where she won her third silver medal of the World Championships behind Cheng Fei of China. She also participated in the uneven bars final, replacing her injured teammate Chellsie Memmel, and finishing in fifth place.
Jana sustained an ankle injury in early 2007, at the American Cup that took her out of competition for awhile. Jana competed at the 2007 U.S. Nationals despite being unprepared. She did not fare well there and was not chosen for the World Championship team.
Although slated to compete at the 2007 Cottbus Cup, U.S. National Team Coordinator, Marta Karoyli pulled Bieger from the meet as she was not prepared for international competition at the time.
Jana finally returned to international competition in 2008 at a small meet, competing on all events but floor. She went on to compete at the 2008 Pacific Rim Championships, where she won Silver in the All Around, and Gold on the Uneven Bars. Jana is in good contention to make the 2008 Olympic Team.
When Jana, who is homeschooled, is not in the gym, she enjoys skiing, boating in the Florida Keys, reading, writing, playing on the computer and hanging out with friends. She carries a 35-year-old turquoise stuffed dog that once belonged her mother to competitions for good luck.
Jana’s gymnastics goals are to continue competing internationally and to make the 2008 Olympic team. If her past results are indicative of the future, Jana’s turquoise dog will be taking a trip to China in a couple of years.
Articles
|