(Omaha, NE) -- An Omaha native is on her way to Brazil to represent Team USA in the 2022 Pan American Gymnastics Championships. 16-year-old Lexi Zeiss left for Brazil on Sunday, July 10th.
"I am so honored!" says Zeiss, in a press release, representing the Twin City Twisters as a Senior Elite gymnast. She grew up in the Omaha area, attending Westside Community Schools before moving to Minnesota to train. The former Westside student was selected for Team USA after finishing second in the All Around competition at the Pan American Trials.
"It has been my dream since I was a little girl to represent the USA!" says Zeiss. "It’s absolutely overwhelming to have it come true. I have amazing coaches at TCT and teammates who push me to be better every, single day. I also want to thank my parents who have made so many sacrifices to allow me to chase my dreams! They always encouraged me to set my goals big and go after them. I’m so proud to represent the USA!"
Zeiss' parents, Jess and Dana Zeiss, work in Omaha. They'll be attending the games in Rio de Janeiro for Lexi's first international competition.
The artistic portion of the 2022 Pan American Gymnastics Championships are July 15-17. A live-feed for the championships will be available on NBC Sports.