Congratulations to our AAU Track and Field athletes who represented the United States at the recent International School Sports Federation (ISF) Gymnasiade held in Bahrain.
More than 145 athletes and coaches from the AAU traveled to Bahrain to compete in multiple sports.
The International School Sport Federation, better known as ISF, hosted the Bahrain Gymnasiade 2024 from October 23-31 bringing together an estimated 5,400 athletes and coaches from more than 70 countries to compete in 26 sports.
"Planning the trip to the 2024 Gymnasiade in Bahrain was extremely rewarding for me in knowing that this was an opportunity of a lifetime for many of our AAU Track & Field Athletes," said Karen Hall, AAU Track & Field National Co-Chair. "They had the chance to not only compete against other countries but also meet new people, learn new customs, philosophies and traditions. These are memories that they will treasure forever and I would not be surprised if this experience sets the stage for many of our future Olympians. "
ISF, is an international non-profit sport organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to organize world championships for youth ages 11 to 18 years old.
AAU athletes are the only US athletes approved by ISF to compete in these international events, creating a truly unique opportunity for the athletes attending.
"As we continue to expand the AAU brand thru our Global Initiative, our athletes had the opportunity to compete against some of the best youth in the world," said Charles Oliver, AAU Global Initiative Ambassador. "We feel that we have one of the best track & field developmental programs in the world and our athletes were extremely successful when they placed their talents on display in front of an international audience. Athletics and Academics are two items that we value and it was equally as important for our athletes to have the opportunity to learn from other cultures."
Congratulations to all the athletes who competed on behalf of the United States and the AAU in the sports of karate, swimming, track and field, and wrestling.