Photo by: Rich Clarkson and Associates

Pioneer junior Simona Castro made history on her 23rd birthday by being the first Chilean woman to qualify for this summer’s Olympic games for gymnastics.

Castro qualified for the 2012 games in London this year after finishing 55th in the All-Around on Jan. 11 in London. She posted a 13.600 on Vault, a 11.466 on Bars, a 12.566 on Beam and a 12.700 on Floor, resulting in a final score of 50.322.

“I think it’s a great achievement for my country and for future generations of gymnastics,” said Castro.  “I just think it’s going to make gymnastics more visible now and they’re going to start supporting more gymnastics in my country.”

Castro, a native of Santiago, Chile, has been competing on the Chilean national team since 2001. She also placed 1st all-around every year from 2006 to 2008 at the Chilean National Championships.

“I think it’s wonderful [that Castro qualified],” said head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. “Obviously we are thrilled for her because she gets to represent herself, her family and her country, but also the University of Denver. With an Olympic year, it’s nice to generate some of that publicity for gymnastics as a whole. It’s an incredible honor for us to have her as our second athlete, along with Jessica Lopez, to qualify for the Olympic games.”

Lopez, a 2009 DU alum, also qualified for the All-Around competition this summer after placing 22nd in the event.  Lopez will be representing Venezuela for the second time after she qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing.

In addition to her training through the DU gymnastics program, Castro has trained on her own as well.

“I did some extra training in the beginning, but now I’m just doing DU workouts. Right now, I’m concentrating on getting used to the different settings with elite and college alternating back and forth,” said Castro.

The Pioneers, currently No. 18, have their first home meet on Saturday against Air Force and Centenary College in Hamilton Gymnasium.