Wendy Hilliard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wendy Hilliard
Country represented	United States
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Years on national team	1978-1987

Wendy Hilliard, born on December 11, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan, is a famous American gymnast. She is a member of the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Wendy was also the first African-American rhythmic gymnast to join the U.S. national team.

Wendy's Gymnastics Journey

Wendy Hilliard started her gymnastics training with artistic gymnastics. Later, she switched to rhythmic gymnastics. She was the first African American to represent the United States in rhythmic gymnastics. She competed in big international events, including three Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 1979, 1981, and 1983.

Joining the National Team

Wendy first competed in the national championships in 1977. This was only a few months after she started the sport. She was part of the national team for nine years, starting in 1978. In 1982, she took a break from competing. During this time, she traveled with a gymnastics show. This show was put together by Kurt Thomas.

Overcoming Challenges

In 1983, Wendy was first told she could not join the show group. They said she "stood out too much." But this decision was later changed. Wendy was then added to the group.

After Competing

Even though she did not compete in the 1984 Summer Olympics, Wendy helped out. She gave information about rhythmic gymnastics to American TV commentators. After the Olympics, she went on another gymnastics tour. She returned to competition in late 1985. Wendy even went to Bulgaria to train with famous gymnasts Diliana Georgieva and Lilia Ignatova.

Life After Gymnastics

After she stopped competing, Wendy Hilliard moved to New York. She became a gymnastics coach. She coached Aliane Baquerot Wilson, who competed in the 1996 Olympics. Wendy was also the first African-American President of the Women’s Sports Foundation. This was from 1995 to 1996. She also worked as a sports commentator for the Olympics. In 1997, she performed in Candide on Broadway. Wendy was also the Director of Sports for New York City's bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Helping Young People Through Gymnastics

In 1996, Wendy started the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation. This foundation offers free and low-cost gymnastics programs. It has helped over 15,000 young people in New York City. In the fall of 2016, she brought her gymnastics programs to Detroit. Now, over 200 young people there enjoy gymnastics every week. They take part in after-school classes.