COIMBRA, Portugal — Delavan native and 2025 Delavan High School graduate Amelia Gasper added another impressive accomplishment to her growing gymnastics résumé, representing the United States at the 2026 FIG Trampoline and Tumbling World Cup and earning an 11th-place finish against many of the world’s top tumblers.

Competing as a member of the USA Gymnastics National Tumbling Team, Gasper traveled to Coimbra, Portugal, for one of the sport’s premier international events, held June 30 through July 6. The World Cup attracted elite athletes from across the globe, all vying for top honors in trampoline, double mini-trampoline and power tumbling competition.

For Gasper, simply earning a spot on Team USA represented the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Her place on the national delegation was secured through strong performances during the national qualifying season, including a podium finish at the Elite Challenge in Wichita, Kansas.

Facing a field packed with experienced international competitors, Gasper demonstrated the skill, composure and athleticism that have made her one of Central Illinois’ top tumbling athletes. She ultimately finished 11th in the world-class field, narrowly missing a berth in the final round but gaining valuable experience competing against the sport’s best.

The performance marked another milestone in a career that has already included multiple opportunities to represent the United States on the international stage.

Gasper, who trains at Jump Start Plus in Peoria, has steadily climbed the ranks of elite tumbling competition through years of disciplined training and competition. Before making the Senior National Team, she represented Team USA at events in both Italy and the United Kingdom and earned a fifth-place finish at the World Age Group Competitions.

Her appearance in Coimbra was her most significant international assignment to date, placing her alongside the top senior-level athletes in the sport.

Friends, family members and supporters back home followed her progress throughout the week-long event, cheering on the Delavan graduate as she competed wearing the red, white and blue.

Gasper trains under Jump Start Plus Head Coach Ky Shaw, whose program has become known for developing nationally and internationally competitive athletes. Shaw has frequently praised Gasper’s work ethic and commitment to mastering the increasingly difficult skills required at the elite level.

At the World Cup competition, athletes are judged on both execution and degree of difficulty, requiring competitors to combine precision, power and consistency in routines that last only seconds but take years to perfect. A single small mistake can make the difference between advancing to the finals and finishing outside the top 10.

Despite the intense pressure of international competition, Gasper delivered a strong performance and gained valuable experience that could prove beneficial in future national and international events.

For a gymnast from a community the size of Delavan, reaching the World Cup stage is an achievement in itself. Her journey from local athletics to representing the United States internationally serves as an inspiration to younger athletes throughout the region.

While an 11th-place finish may not have resulted in a medal, it places Gasper among the top tumbling athletes in the world and continues a trend of success that has characterized her career.

As she returns home from Portugal, Gasper can take pride in having represented both her country and her hometown on one of gymnastics’ biggest stages. Her performance in Coimbra demonstrated that athletes from small-town Central Illinois can compete with the best in the world.