Six Athletes Represent the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation at USA Gymnastics Championships

Local New York City Athletes including BJ Mensah, ZaQuae Carter, and Phoenix Britt Brought Home High Honors

HARLEM, NY – July 2, 2024 – The Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF) is thrilled to announce that six of their athletes competed during last week’s USA Gymnastics Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with many bringing home high honors back to Harlem, New York City. By virtue of reaching the finals in Minneapolis, 18-year-old BJ Mensah earned a spot on the Senior National Tumbling Team. Mensah, who is the son of WHGF Founder and CEO Wendy Hilliard, placed high in major events throughout the year leading up to Minneapolis en route to making the Senior National team for the second consecutive year. Moreover, Mensah’s outstanding showing during this year’s USA Gymnastics Championships pushed him to an overall number four position among the eight members on the men’s Senior National squad.

“My performance was pretty good,” said Mensah about his showing in Minneapolis. “I put up some pretty good scores, and overall, it was a great meet. This helped prepare me to get ready for Portugal and for the World Cup next week. It’s super exciting to make the national team. It’s not an easy spot to get unless you’re the best of the best. To do it back-to-back is very satisfying.”

WHGF product and 17-year-old ZaQuae Carter, an alternate on the 2023 World Championships Team, also had a great performance and captured the gold medal in the 17-and-up Double Mini. It was Carter’s first appearance at this level in the Double Mini in the USA Gymnastics Championships.

“My transition was pretty good,” said Carter, who was a bronze medalist in tumbling at the 2023 World Age Group Championships. “I have to be more consistent and that’s something I have to improve on. My goal is to get a gold medal at the World Championships and stand on the podium.”

WHGF’s Phoenix Britt, 17, earned a silver medal in the women’s Open Double Mini Trampoline competition. Britt, who hails from Stony Point, New York, will enter her freshman year at Arizona State University this fall where she will compete on the Stunt Team.

Other WHGF athletes who qualified for the USA Gymnastics Championships were Ty-La Morris, who placed 4 th in Tumbling in the women’s Intermediate 17–21-year-old division; and Kaya Beckles, who finished 8 th overall in the women’s 15-plus Tumbling Level 9 division. Kaya’s brother, Carter Beckles, qualified for the USA Gymnastics Championships but sustained an injury during a training session in Minneapolis and couldn’t compete.

All six WHGF athletes train with Coach Roger Walker and the CAVU Trampoline & Tumbling out of New Jersey.

Click HERE for photos from the USA Gymnastics Championships. Credit to “Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation.”

The Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation’s mission is to empower the lives of young people from underserved communities by improving physical and emotional health through the sport of gymnastics. WHGF was founded in NYC in 1996 and expanded to Detroit in 2016, in Wendy Hilliard’s hometown. Notably known for being the first Black-led organization to produce national and international champions in two gymnastics disciplines, rhythmic and tumbling, WHGF is the only urban gymnastics non-profit operating in two cities that provides all levels of classes and training in three gymnastics disciplines, all led by staff and administration that reflects the demographic served. To-date, WHGF has served over 25,000 youth, with annual service to approximately 1,500 students, and 916 of those being in Harlem alone.

For more information about the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation please go to www.wendyhilliardfoundation.org.

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ABOUT WENDY HILLIARD & THE WENDY HILLIARD GYMNASTICS FOUNDATION

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Wendy started gymnastics at age 12. She trained through the Detroit Recreation Department with coaches from the former Soviet Union. She was the first Black athlete to represent the U.S. in international competition in rhythmic gymnastics and competed in three World Championships. In 2008, she was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She was President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and coached 1996 Olympian Aliane Baquerot Wilson. Following her competitive and award-winning experience as a world-class athlete and coach, Wendy recognized the lack of gymnastic opportunities among urban youth, which inspired her to launch the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation.

The WHGF is a pioneering, black-led organization, trailblazing the path for international gymnastic champions. As a nonprofit, its unparalleled legacy lies in offering support and opportunities to youth through gymnastics. Often likened to an “HBCU” for gymnastics, it distinguishes itself through the diversity and excellence of its staff. Moreover, it’s remarkable for introducing thousands of underserved youth to gymnastics, enabling some to achieve incredible heights in a sport typically not located in urban centers.

The Foundation serves urban youth between the ages of 3 to 17. At WHGF, young gymnasts learn about time management, responsibility, teamwork, leadership, and sustainable health habits.