Carly Patterson

About Carly Patterson

Carly Rae Patterson (born February 4, 1988 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a former American gymnast (the 2004 Olympic All-Around Champion). She currently lives in Allen, Texas.

Patterson was at a cousin's birthday party at a gymnastics club in 1994 when a coach at the gym saw her and asked her mother if she was taking lessons. When her mother said no the coach was amazed at her natural talent. Carly then began taking lessons. In 2000, Patterson participated in the Top Gym Tournament in Belgium; she won the silver medal in the all-around and the bronze medal for balance beam, which she has said is her favorite event.

At the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, she was ranked second in the all-around before the final rotation. She was suffering from a stomach illness, however, and she missed three landings on the floor exercise and finished seventh overall. Nevertheless, her balance beam routine was particularly spectacular, featuring what would become her signature double Arabian dismount (later to be named "the Patterson").