DENVER – Former University of Denver gymnast and alumna
Lynnzee Brown has secured her spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced on Thursday.
Brown received the
universality (tripartite) spot for women's artistic gymnastics. Universality spots are awarded to athletes in select sports (including gymnastics) from countries that have averaged eight or fewer athletes at the last two Olympic Games with the intent of diversifying countries that are represented at the Olympics.
Recipients of the universality spots must meet additional criteria including attempting to qualify through other routes (such as the world and continental championships) and achieving internationally-competitive level of expertise. At the conclusion of all qualifying competitions, the Olympic Games Tripartite Commission allocates the universality spots.
With the universality spot, Brown will represent Haiti at the 2024 Paris Olympics, set for July 26 – August 11. She will compete in the women's qualification round on Sunday, July 28, during which she will seek a spot in the all-around final.
She is now the fourth Denver gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, joining Jessica Lopez (representing Venezuela in 2008, 2012 and 2016), Simona Castro (representing Chile in 2012 and 2016) and Annamari Maaranen (representing Finland in 2008). She will be the first female gymnast to represent Haiti at an Olympic Games.
Brown began her pursuit of an Olympic berth in May 2023 when she made her elite debut at the Pan American Championships in Medellin, Colombia, where she placed No. 17 overall in the all-around with a 48.100 and qualified for the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
At 2023 Worlds in Antwerp, Belgium, she scored a 47.766 and finished No. 82 in the final all-around standings. After not earning an Olympics berth in Antwerp, she competed again just weeks later at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, advancing to the all-around final where she scored a personal-best 48.133. She finished No. 14 overall in the all-around but did not secure an automatic Olympics berth.
To continue to make her case for the universality spot, she resumed her elite career at the 2024 Pan American Championships in Santa Marta, Colombia, on May 22-26, again advancing to the all-around final and placing No. 18 with a 45.601. In qualifications, she posted a 46.633.
The Raytown, Missouri, native concluded her six-year career at the University of Denver with a program-record fourth-place finish in the all-around at the 2023 NCAA National Championships. She left DU as one of the most decorated gymnasts in program history, winning an NCAA national title on floor in 2019 and four Big 12 Conference championships including in the all-around in 2021. In total, she accumulated 20 WCGA All-American honors during her collegiate career and set Denver records for all-around score (39.825) and most career perfect 10.0s (five).
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