Lemont's Bobby Baker to Compete at USA Gymnastics' National Championship

junior Bobby Baker will compete alongside 2012 Olympic hopefuls this week at the USA Gymnastics' national championships in St. Louis.

Baker, 16, is among 40 junior division qualifiers who will compete Thursday through Sunday at the Visa Championships.

He earned his spot last month after finishing third in the all-around at the U.S. Men's Junior Olympic National Championships on May 13 in Cincinnati.

Although Baker is too young to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team, he could earn a position on the Junior National team by finishing top seven of his division, according to his dad, Jeff Baker. The Junior National team trains in Colorado Springs, CO, and competes internationally several times throughout the year.

"This is a huge accomplishment for Bobby, and a great opportunity to move forward in his gymnastics career," Jeff Baker told Patch last month.

This year marks Baker's second appearance at the Visa Championships. Last year in the junior division, 14-15 age group.

According to his USA Gymnastics profile, Baker became a gymnast at age 5. He trains at Aerial Gymnastics Club in Downers Grove under coach Tim O'Connell.

The Visa Championships, USA Gymnastics' national competition, features gymnasts vying for national titles and spots on the U.S. national team in men's, women's and rhythmic gymnastics. USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is "to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport."

The competition will be aired on NBC Sports and Universal Sports. For more information, visit www.usagym.org/visa.

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