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National Governing Body · United States

USA Gymnastics

Gymnastics' U.S. governing body — six disciplines, 240,000 members, and a governance rebuild written into a bankruptcy court settlement.
✓ Last reviewed: August 2026
SportGymnastics
Founded1963, as the United States Gymnastics Federation
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana
Members~240,000 individuals · 3,300+ clubs · 3,000+ sanctioned events a year
DisciplinesWomen's & men's artistic · rhythmic · trampoline & tumbling · acrobatic · parkour
LeadershipKyle Albrecht, President & CEO (from 1 Jan 2026)

What is USA Gymnastics?

USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, recognised by the FIG and the USOPC under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. Founded in 1963 as the United States Gymnastics Federation and renamed in 1993, it governs six disciplines — women's and men's artistic, rhythmic, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic and parkour — along with Gymnastics for All.[1] [2]

What does it govern?

It sets American rules and the domestic code of points; runs state, regional and national championships; certifies judges and coaches; sanctions and insures roughly 3,000 events a year; and issues the annual athlete, coach and judge memberships required to compete. Membership is close to 240,000 individuals across more than 3,300 clubs.[1] [2]

How does it select national teams?

Through published, discipline-specific Athlete Selection Procedures filed under USOPC rules before each cycle. The route runs from state and regional meets through elite qualifiers to the U.S. Championships — and, in Games years, the Olympic Trials — after which a standing Athlete Selection Committee for each discipline names the National Team and event teams against the published criteria, with provision for petitions in cases of injury or illness. The committee's minutes are published.[2] [3]

The post-2018 governance rebuild

Following the Larry Nassar criminal case, the USOC in January 2018 required the entire USA Gymnastics board to resign, and began decertification proceedings that November; the organisation filed for Chapter 11 in December 2018. In December 2021 a federal bankruptcy court confirmed a reorganisation plan agreed with the survivors' committee, including a $380 million settlement funded jointly by USA Gymnastics, the USOPC and insurers, and non-monetary commitments: strengthened Safe Sport policies and complaint adjudication, and guaranteed survivor representation on the board, the Safe Sport Committee and the Athlete Health and Wellness Council. Sexual-misconduct cases involving members now fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the independent U.S. Center for SafeSport.[3] [4]

Why does it matter?

Because it is the only route into sanctioned American gymnastics — membership, judging, event sanctioning and every national team pass through it — and because its selection procedures, uniquely among the sports on this site, are published together with the committee minutes that applied them.[1] [2]

References

  1. USA Gymnastics — about. Accessed August 2026.
  2. USA Gymnastics — athlete selection procedures. Accessed August 2026.
  3. USA Gymnastics — settlement with survivors approved by court. Accessed August 2026.
  4. USA Gymnastics — safe sport. Accessed August 2026.