Kristen "Kristy" Powell (born February 13, 1980) is an American

gymnast Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, sh ...

. She was co-national All-Around champion alongside

Vanessa Atler Vanessa Marie Atler (born February 17, 1982) is an American former elite gymnast. She is the 1997 U.S. national all-around champion, the 1998 Goodwill Games gold medalist on the floor exercise and Vault (gymnastics), vault, and a four-time natio ...

in 1997. She retired from competition the following year.

Early life

Powell was born in

Stuart, Florida Stuart is a city in and the county seat of Martin County, Florida, United States. Located in southeastern Florida, Stuart is the largest of five Municipal corporation, incorporated municipalities in Martin County. The population is 17,425 accordi ...

. Powell was raised by her mother along with four older brothers. She began practicing gymnastics at age 5. Her brother Rusty taught her how to do flips, which she picked up quickly. The family relocated to

Houston, Texas Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

when gymnastics coach

Bela Karolyi Bela may refer to: Places Asia *Bela Pratapgarh, a town in Pratapgarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India *Bela, a small village near Bhandara, Maharashtra, India *Bela, another name for the biblical city Zoara * Bela, Dang, in Nepal *Bela, Janakpur, ...

invited nine-year old Powell to train under his tutelage. That same year, Powell portrayed young

Nadia Comaneci Nadia is a female name. Variations include Nadja, Nadya, Nadine, Nadiya, and Nadiia. Most variations of the name are derived from Arabic, Slavic languages, or both. In many Slavic languages, names similar to ''Nadia'' mean "hope": Ukrainia ...

in a TV Movie about the Olympic Gymnasts' life. When Powell switched gyms two years later, the family again relocated to

Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010 United States Census, 2 ...

Competitive gymnast

Powell made her competitive debut in 1991 at the junior national championships where she placed 9th. Powell's first international competition was in 1993, when she competed in a dual meet against Japan where she earned three silver medals. In 1995, Powell was named the U.S. team for the

McDonald's American Cup The American Cup was an elite senior level international gymnastics competition that had been held in the United States from 1976 to 2020. It was usually held in February or March of each year. In 2011, it became part of the International Federatio ...

following the injury of a team member. Powell won the all-around title, vault, and uneven bars at the competition. That same year Powell was part of the U.S. team that won gold at the

Pan American Games The Pan American Games, known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas. It features thousands of athletes participating in competitions to win different summer sports. It is held among athletes from nations of th ...

. Powell's success in 1995 was followed by injuries, including lateral collateral ligament in her knee and extreme pain in her shins. Powell competed in 1996, hoping to make the Olympic Team. She finished 7th U.S. championships and 13th in the Olympic trials but was not chosen for the team. Powell then suffered more physical injuries including a pulled back muscle and another knee injury. In January 1997 Powell relocated to the

Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy (CGA), is an American women's artistic gymnastics academy in Fairfield, Ohio. It has trained Olympians and world champions, including Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps. History The academy was opened in the 1980s by ...

where Mary Lee Tracy became her new coach. Powell moved to Cincinnati while her family stayed behind in Colorado Springs. Powell took a four-week break from her training for surgery on her calf muscle. Powell became co-United States national all-around champion with

in 1997. At the same event, Powell also won gold on the uneven bars. The win allowed Powell to be named to the U.S. team for the World Championship, qualified her for support funding from the national team, and earned her a spot touring with the Magnificent Seven, the U.S. gymnasts who won the 1996 Olympic team competition. At 1997 World Championships, Powell was part of the U.S. team, placing last in the team competition. At the same event, she placed 23rd in the individual all-around. Powell retired from competitive gymnastics in 1998. Years of injuries made competition too physically painful.

Cirque du Soleil

Powell joined

Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil (, ; ) is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, Montreal, Saint-Michel, Montreal, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 Jun ...

as an

aerialist Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acro d ...

in 2003. Powell performed in

La Nouba ''La Nouba'' was a Cirque du Soleil show that ran for 19 years in a custom-built, freestanding theater at Disney Springs' West Side at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It was a contemporary circus performance featur ...

as the first American trapeze artist in the show.

References

External links

Kristy Powell
at

USA Gymnastics United States of America Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics or USAG) is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. It sets the domestic rules and policies that govern the sport, promotes and develops gymnastics on the grassroots ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Kristy 1980 births Living people American female artistic gymnasts Cirque du Soleil performers Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics U.S. women's national team gymnasts Gymnasts at the 1995 Pan American Games 20th-century American sportswomen Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games