Chippewa Valley Times

Jessie DeZiel, head gymnastics coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, is closely following the U.S. gymnastics team’s performance at the Paris Olympic Games. DeZiel is one of three members on the Team USA Gymnastics Athletes’ Council/Selection Committee responsible for selecting the women’s Olympic team, which consists of five members and two alternates.

“I will be watching every single women’s gymnastics competition, cheering my heart out for these incredible people and athletes that have worked incredibly hard to get to where they are now,” DeZiel said. “I got up at 4:30 a.m. Sunday to watch the qualification round. They did awesome and I am looking forward to team finals on Tuesday.”

DeZiel also served on the panel that selected the team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where the U.S. team secured two individual gold medals and an overall silver medal in a largely spectator-free environment due to pandemic restrictions. Four members of this year’s team were also part of the Tokyo squad.

“After having to compete at the Olympics during the pandemic, it is so incredible that they will get the full Olympic experience; it is well deserved for them all,” DeZiel commented.

In her fourth year as head coach at UW-Eau Claire, DeZiel boasts an impressive resume as a nine-time All-American from the University of Nebraska and a gold medalist at the 2011 Pan American Games. She has been involved with USA Gymnastics since 2019 and described performances at June's Olympic Trials in Minneapolis as “just incredible.” The selection process was challenging due to high levels of talent among athletes.

“Selecting any team is always hard,” DeZiel noted. “All these athletes work so hard for a spot, and it is absolutely heartbreaking when we only get to choose five athletes.”

Under DeZiel's leadership, UW-Eau Claire's gymnastics teams have produced a national champion, three All-Americans, and set multiple program records in both individual and team competitions.

Jason Verdugo, UW-Eau Claire director of athletics, praised DeZiel as “a tremendous ambassador” for USA Gymnastics.

“The quality of our coaches is undoubtedly one of our greatest strengths in our department, and Jessie certainly falls into that category,” Verdugo said. “The gymnastics program experienced some tremendous growth last year, and I anticipate we will continue to see that moving forward.”

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