Rhythmic gymnast Kiana Eide of St. Francis was named Sunday to the five-woman team that will compete in group rhythmic gymnastics at the Summer Olympics in Rio.
Eide, 17, was part of a six-woman group that finished 13th at the world championships last September in Germany, earning the U.S. a place at the Rio Games. That group had to be trimmed to five for the Olympics.
The team, named Sunday at the conclusion of the USA Gymnastics Championships in Providence, R.I., also includes Alisa Kano, Natalie McGiffert, Monica Rokhman and Kristen Shaldybin.
The group trains together at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center in Northbrook, Ill. Eide and her father, Troy, moved there two years ago to allow Kiana to pursue an Olympic berth.
"It's so corny, but dreams really do come true,'' Eide told USA Gymnastics. "I've been saying I wanted to go to the Olympics since I was in second grade. Dedication and hard work really pay off.''
The U.S. will compete in the group event at the Olympics for only the second time.
RACHEL BLOUNT
