Julie Zetlin

Julie Zetlin- the 2010 U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics National Champion- is feeling great and ready to compete at World Championships following surgery earlier this year.  Zetlin is the U.S.’s best chance of avoiding being shut out of the rhythmic gymnastics competition at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Washington Post

Zetlin, a U.S. National Champion in a sport in which the United States has struggled internationally, reluctantly followed her doctor’s recommendation in early May.  The last thing Bethesda’s Julie Zetlin wanted to hear on the eve of the biggest summer of her rhythmic gymnastics career was these three words: You need surgery.

Rehabilitation from the operation to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee took longer than expected. She was forced to withdraw from the U.S. championships in August. She couldn’t jump until about a month ago.

Yet, beginning at this week’s world championships in Montpellier, France, she is tasked with nothing less than saving the U.S. rhythmic gymnastics program from a second straight global slip-up.

Four years ago, the U.S. rhythmic program failed — for only the second time since 1984 — to qualify for the Summer Olympics. Bum knee or not, Zetlin’s primary goal between now and January, when the final qualifying spots will be doled out in London, is to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

Despite losing weeks of training this summer, she said she is physically ready for the start Monday of the world championships, where 15 Olympic qualifying slots will be on offer. On paper, she provides the United States with huge hopes; last year in Moscow, Zetlin became the first U.S.-born rhythmic competitor to qualify for a world all-around final.

“Now, I feel really great,” Zetlin, 21, said from Paris during a conference call Monday. “I feel pretty prepared. I feel strong mentally, physically. . . . I think the biggest thing for me to show is . . . my ability to be consistent. If I show my strength in that, I think I have a pretty good chance of advancing to the Olympics.” (read more)

Julie Zetlin to serve as athlete ambassador for Best Bones Forever! campaign, a bone health campaign for girls and their BFFs to “grow strong together and stay strong forever!”  In April 2011 Julie was selected as the April 2011 Best Bones Forever! Ambassador of the Month!

Julie Zetlin, a rhythmic gymnast, is the 2010 U.S. National Champion and the 2010 Pan American Champion. Her performance at the 2010 Rhythmic World Championships made Julie the first American-born gymnast to qualify for the rhythmic all-around finals at the World Championships. She is well on her way toward earning a spot on the 2012 Olympic team! (read more)

USA Gymnastics
2010 U.S. All-Around champions Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md., and Rebecca Sereda of Staten Island, N.Y., won their second consecutive senior and junior all-around titles, respectively, at the 2011 Rhythmic Challenge at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Zetlin, who trains at Capital Rhythmics, won the senior all-around crown with a score of 98.408. She finished first in hoop (25.875) and ribbon (25.558), second in clubs (22.900), and third in ball (24.075). (read more)

New York, NY, March 1, 2011 – SHADE GLOBAL Inc., a sports marketing and athlete representation agency in New York, announces the signing of American rhythmic gymnast Julie Zetlin.

Julie Zetlin- the USA’s top rhythmic gymnast- is building an impressive list of accomplishments and is well on her way towards earning a spot on the 2012 Olympic team.  Julie is the 2010 U.S. National Champion and the 2010 Pan American Champion.  Her performance at the 2010 Rhythmic World Championships made Julie the first American-born gymnast to qualify for the rhythmic all-around finals at the World Championships. (read more)