2016 Olympics: North Shore-Trained Rhythmic Gymnast Makes History in Rio

By Amie Schaenzer | Patch Staff

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Libertyville’s Laura Zeng may not have made it to the finals in rhythmic gymnastics last week at the U.S. Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but her 11th-place finish will go down in the history books. The 16-year-old on Friday received the highest place since 1984 in rhythmic gymnastics when Valerie Zimring tied for 11th place in the sport.

Zeng, who attends Libertyville High School, qualified for the Olympics in June. With her bronze medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, she became the first U.S. rhythmic athlete to win a medal at an Olympic or Youth Olympic Games, according to her profile on the Team USA website. In May she became the first American to medal at a world cup when she won bronzes in hoop and ribbon in Minsk, Belarus.

Photo credit: USA Gymnastics Facebook page

Zeng was the only athlete from the U.S. to compete in rhythmic gymnastics as an individual competitor. Rhythmic gymnastics is a form of gymnastics emphasizing dance-like rhythmic routines, typically accentuated by the use of ribbons or hoops.

Zeng trains at the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center in Northbrook. The local gym sang its praise over social media for Zeng.

A team of five gymnasts who also trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, also made it to the Olympics and competed Saturday in Rio. The squad left the floor in tears after finishing in last place in the qualifying round, according to the Chicago Tribune. But their tears were happy ones.

They made history by making it to the Olympics as the first team in U.S. history to qualify on their own merit for the summer Olympics, according to the Chicago Tribune. A rhythmic gymnastics team did compete in 1994 at the Atlanta games but that is only because they were given a courtesy berth, which is given to all host nations.

• MORE ON PATCH: Rhythmic Gymnastics Team from the North Shore Among Illinois Olympians Headed to Rio

The team consisted of Monica Rokhman, Kiana Eide, Alisa Kano, Natalie McGiffert and Kristen Shaldybin, along with Jenny Rohkman, who served as the replacement athlete for the team.

Monica Rokhman and Jenny Rokhman, who are identical twin sisters, grew up in Northbrook and are both 2015 graduates of Glenbrook North High School. Monica and Jenny are the daughters of Dmitry and Svetlana Rokhman.

Shaldybin attends Highland Park High School, and Eide attends Glenbrook North High School. McGiffert graduated from Glenbrook North High School in 2015 and Kano graduated from Glenbrook North in 2013.

PHOTO: Laura Zeng (Image via Team USA Gymnastics)

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