Sean's Biography
Updated: 12/09/2001
Name:
Sean Townsend
Birthdate:
January 20, 1979
Birthplace:
Temple, TX
Residence:
Houston, TX
School:
San Jacinto College
Gym
Stuff
Began
Gymnastics: 1989;
he was 10 years old
Gym:
Houston Gymnastics Academy; Team Texaco
Coach:
Kevin Mazeika
Favorite
Event: High Bar
Years
on National Team: 6- Sr. National team 1998-2002, Jr. National
Team 1995-1998
Sean Townsend is the
guardian son of Cindy Thornton, which makes him like a brother to Jr. National
team member Todd Thornton. Sean started gymnastics in Dallas, TX when he was 10
years old. He moved to Houston to train with national team coach Kevin Mazeika
at Texas Sports Ranch. There he trained with Jr./Sr. National Team members Todd
Thornton, Mike Dutka, Mike Evans, David Henderson, Jamie Henderson, and Tyler
Yamauchi; along with many other class I & II male gymnasts. On August 1st
Sean, along with his coach and team moved from Texas Sports Ranch to the Houston
Gymnastics Academy where they became the official Team Texaco. Texaco, which is
based in the Houston area, has become on of USAG's biggest sponsors for men's
gymnastics. Texaco also sponsors some of the gymnasts from the USOTC in Colorado
Springs.
Sean was able to secure
a spot on the World Championship team! Re-ranking was done at this meet so it
puts Sean as the 3rd ranked US Sr. Sean competed in his first World
Championships in October of 1999 where the US team placed 6th. Sean
did not compete all 6 events making him ineligible for the AA but he did gain a
lot of experience.
After a great showing at
the Olympic test event, Sean was picked for the Pacific Alliance Meet in
Christchurch, New Zealand. The US is taking this meet as and Olympic warm up and
is sending their best and healthiest teams!
On Saturday August 19,
2000 Sean finally captured his dream when he earned a spot on the 2000 Olympic
team! Sean was competing with strep throat, and still placed third! Way to go
Sean!
Sean placed 5th
with the US Men's team in Sydney Australia. The team put up an excellent fight
in order to place 5th. Sean has decided (at least for now) to stay
true to his dream of bringing home an Olympic medal, he will continue to train
until 2004.
Shortly after competing
in the 2000 Olympics Sean joined his teammates on the USAG post-Olympic tour.
The tour traveled all over the country for 2 months.
Once finished Sean returned to training and began to get ready for the
next quad. In
efforts to ready himself for major international competitions he competed in 5
meets before the 2001 USA National Championships.
In a meet where many though the race for the championship would be close,
a calm and confident Sean slowly pulled away from the field winning by over 1.5.
Sean will help to lead the USA team to the World University Games, the
Goodwill Games, and the 2001 Worlds Championships.
Joining Sean on the USA World team will be Brett McClure, Raj Bhavsar,
Stephen McCain, Guard Young, Paul Hamm and ranked alternates Todd Thornton,
Jason Furr and Daniel Diaz-Luong.
Well Sean is closing in on reaching all of his dreams. At the 2001 World Championships in Ghent Sean and the US men captured the silver medal. After a very close AA race in which Sean lead most of the competition he fell off of the high bar twice and finished 8th all around. Although visibly upset by the fall Sean came back a few nights later and one the first gold medal by a US man in a long time. Sean won the p-bars achieving one of his goals- winning a world championships medal- that actually completes Sean's list of long term goals but it looks as if he has added winning an Olympic medal and winning a world or Olympic AA medal to that list because he is still competing strong.
To
see Sean's Official Biography go to his USAG
Bio.
