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Who ever said that the young people of today don't have big dreams has never met Nicole Childs. Nicole Stephanie Childs was born 10, March 1986, in Templeton, California. In 1988 Nikki, as she is more commonly known, moved with her parents (Mike and Judy) to North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Two years later she began gymnastics at the tender age of 5 in a small gym in Marlboro, MA. In January of 1992 Nikki, along side her family, moved to Margate, Florida where Nikki began training at American Twisters. After training at American Twisters for a year and half the Childs' family moved to Plano, Texas where Nikki began training at the renowned World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA).
In August of 2002 Nikki accomplished one of her dreams. To make the US National team. In 2000, at her first US Nationals Championships, Nikki missed making the team by .99 of a point. At the 2001 US Nationals she barely missed the team again. But in 2002 there seemed to a change of events. At the 2002 American Classic, Nikki placed 11th. She followed this performance up by a 2nd place finishing at 2002 Pikes Peak Cup. At the 2002 US Classic Nikki place 9th, right behind 2-time world team member Mohini Bhardwaj. And at the 2002 US Nationals Nikki placed 12th to secure the last and final spot on the National team. Nikki receieved her first international assignment in May of 2003 (USA vs. Belgum Friendship Meet) at the Karolyi Camp, where she placed 6th AA, 10th on vault, 4th on bars, 3rd on beam and 5th on floor.
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In the fall of 2004 Nikki became a Georgia GymDog. She started her freshmen year of her collegiate career off with a bang! She was a major factor on beam, floor and bars all year long. She was a second-team All-American on beam and bars, an All-SEC on bars (by scoring a career high of 9.9). Sfter the regular season ended Nikki ranked 15th nationally on beam and third in the SEC. Following the Kentucky meet Suzanne name her MVP scoring a 9.85 on floor and bars.
Nikki's sophomore proved to be just as fantastics as her freshman year. Nikki was on the SEC Honor Roll. She a member of the First-Team All-American on balance beam and second-team on bars thanks to a pair of 9.875's in the prelim session of the NCAA Championships. A a 9.900 on bars at the SEC Regional to tie her career high. Was on top of her game at the SEC Championships with a 9.85 on bars and 9.825 on beam. Her meet against UCLA with 9.850's on bars and beam was one of her best of the season. Two-event night in 13 meets during the year and was on bars, beam and floor in Georgia’s wins at Florida and home vs. LSU. Her ‘Moon Walk’ on beam has earned applause from every crowd during the year. Nikki is now currently in her junior year at Geargia and is so far enjoying every minute of it.
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