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RECAP: AAU Goes International for the ISF Gymnasiade 2022

The Amateur Athletic Union spent the last week in Normandy, France representing the United States in the International School Sport Federation Gymnasiade 2022

May 24, 2022

RECAP: AAU Goes International for the ISF Gymnasiade 2022

By: Troy MacNeill

ISF Gymnasiade 2022
Dates: March 14-21, 2022
Location: Normandy, France
Gymnasiade | Results | Photos | Replays | Final Bulletin
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 24, 2022) – The Amateur Athletic Union went international this past week to represent the United States in the International School Sport Federation Gymnasiade 2022. Fifty-three (53) athletes were joined by their coaches and made the trip to Normandy, France to compete on a global stage and learn new cultures.
 
AAU sent athletes competing in seven (7) of the sports being played at the ISF Gymnasiade: archery, beach volleyball, dance, fencing, swimming, table tennis, and wrestling. More than 2,200 athletes, and a combined 3,191 total participants, from 67 countries arrived in Normandy for the 19th ISF Gymnasiade. The AAU/USA delegation sent approximately 74 participants across the world for this one of a kind opportunity.
 
The ISF Gymnasiade is the largest international multi-sport and educational event for school students aged 16-18 years old. The festivities began on May 15 with the Opening Ceremonies and competition went from May 16 until the Closing Ceremony on May 21. With students from around the world competing in 20 different sports and engaging in a variety of cultural and educational activities, the AAU athletes were able to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.
 
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for athletes, parents and their families,” said Jennings Buchanan, AAU President & CEO. “We are proud of the athletes competing this year on behalf of the AAU.”
 

 
While the student-athletes had the opportunity to learn and explore many new cultures and make new friends from around the world, they also represented their schools, AAU, and the United States on the playing surface.
 
In competition, the AAU/USA delegation came home with 12 medals total. Emma Kim took home bronze for the Girls Recurve Archery. Boys and Girls Doubles in table tennis won bronze as Aziz Zarehbin and Ved Sheth teamed up for the boys, and Rachel and Joanna Sung paired for the girls. Rachel Sung and Angie Tan also capture bronze in the Girls Individual table tennis event. Wrestling earned multiple medals during the week: Gabrielle Ladehoffe won bronze in the Girls Freestyle 40kg, Madyson Gray won Girls Freestyle 61kg, Raegan Gallaway won bronze in the Girls Freestyle 65kg, Isabella Deeds won silver for Girls Freestyle 69kg, Brenyn Delano won bronze in the Boys Freestyle 55kg, and Adrian Brice won bronze in the Boys Freestlye 60kg. And last but not least, Ensley Alden and Taylor Hagenah kept AAU/USA’s winning streak alive. Alden and Hagenah captured the gold medal, the third straight gold medal for the AAU/USA delegation in ISF world events.
 
“It was such a cool experience going out of the country and representing AAU/USA in our favorite sport,” Taylor Hagenah said. “That was my first time out of the country so I was very excited the entire time leading up to it and during the whole trip. It was so awesome to meet many other athletes from all over the world and share things in common and make new friends… This has been one of the best experiences volleyball had brought me so far and I am so grateful I was able to experience it!”
 
Athletes were also joined in Normandy by AAU Board of Director Members Gino Grajeda, Lewis Fellinger, and AAU President and CEO, Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan.
 
“This was the largest delegation we have ever sent to the ISF Gymnasiade and I can’t say enough great things about the amazing experience,” said Gino Grajeda, AAU/ISF Liaison, President of the ISF Beach Volleyball Technical Commission and the Commissioner of AAU Beach Volleyball. “The bonding between teammates and the friendships that were made among student-athletes from other countries made it special. We are looking forward to having much more involvement and an even greater impact with ISF moving forward.”
 
In between the fierce competitions, all members had the opportunity and privilege to explore new cultures and learn more about their fellow competitors. Through Nation Night where each delegation had a booth to present themselves and Cultural Days where athletes could visit multiple landmarks in Normandy that shaped history, student-athletes were able to walk away with much more than just a medal.
 
We are incredibly proud of all of our athletes that went across the world to represent AAU, their schools, and the United States. You all showed exactly what it means to be a student-athlete. We cannot wait to see what comes next for each and every one of you.

To read more about the ISF and the 2022 ISF Gymnasiade, click here. Visit our social media pages to see our athletes representing and having some fun in Normandy: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

About AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports event organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by approximately 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts.
 

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Sports For All, Forever

The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 800,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.   

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