Carly Janiga

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Carly Janiga (born October 19, 1988), is an American gymnast.

A Paradise Valley, Arizona native, she trains at the Desert Devils Gymnastics club in Mesa under coach Geoff Eaton. She did not compete much in 2003 due to a heel injury. 2004 was her big year, however, and she was considered a viable prospect for the American team for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The youngest gymnast in serious contention for the U.S. team, Janiga was noted for her explosive tumbling. Her floor exercise was easily one of the most technically difficult in the world, featuring four 'E' element tumbling passes: a double layout, double arabian tucked, piked full-in and whip through to triple full. National Team Coordinator Marta Karolyi had a positive opinion on Janiga, prompting NBC commentator Tim Daggett to note, in an interview with the Arizona Republic newspaper, that "I don't pick the team, Marta Karolyi does, and Marta Karolyi likes her a lot". ^[1] Janiga qualified to the Olympic trials in Anaheim, California in June 2004, where she finished ninth and was not selected for the team.

In late 2004, Janiga represented the United States in two IAAF World Cup competitions after the Olympics, earning gold medals on the floor exercise in both meets. Janiga enters Stanford University in the fall of 2006 and will compete in NCAA gymnastics.