Gymn Forum: Tia Orlando biography

Tia Orlando (USA)

2002 Jr. Pan American Games AA Bronze Medalist
2003 Pan American Games FX Champion

Tia was born on February 18, 1988, in Philadelphia. Her father was a cameraman for NFL Films, and her mother owned a dance school - that's where Tia started taking dance classes when she was two. The following year,
Tia started taking gymnastics classes at Cherry Hill Gymnastics in NJ. After attending a gymnastics camp at Parkettes, 10-year-old Tia begged her parents to let her to train there. Initially, Tia and her grandmother moved
to Allentown, and eventually the rest of the family (her parents and 2 siblings) followed.

At Parkettes, Tia progressed quickly, becoming a member of the junior and senior national teams and representing the USA at several overseas competitons. Tia's goal of competing in the 2004 Olympics was not to be; she
injured her ankle during the first day of the US Olympic Trials and had to withdraw from the competition. She enrolled at Arizona State University in 2004 on a full athletic scholarship and graduated with a major in communications.
Her collegiate career, unfortunately, was not without injuries: she tore an ACL in 2007, and tore her Achilles at the 2008 Pac 10 Championships. She has worked at Alpha Factor since 2014, where she's a Relationship Manager.

Competition Results

1998
White House Open (Level 7): 1st Team, 1st AA

1999
Level 9 Championships: 2nd AA
Parkette Invitational (Level 9): 2nd AA
Pennsylvania State Championships (Level 9): 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 4th V, 4th B
Region 7 Championships (Level 9): 2nd AA, 1st FX, 2nd B, 3rd UB, 4th V

2000
JO Nationals: 6th AA, 6th FX, 7th V
Parkette Invitational (age 12-13): 3rd AA
Pennsylvania State Championsips (Level 10): 3rd AA, 2nd UB, 3rd V, 3rd FX, 4th B

2001
Jr. Hypotheekshop Cup: 6th AA
Jr. US Championships: 6th AA
Jr. US Classic: 10th AA
Parkette Invitational (age 12-13): 5th AA

2002
Jr. American Classic: 30th AA (2 events)
Jr. Brazilian International Tournament: 1st Team, 1st FX, 3rd V
Jr. Gymnix International: 3rd AA
Jr. Pan American Games: 3rd AA
Jr. US Championships: 5th AA
Jr. US Classic: 6th AA
Jurassic Classic: 2nd AA
Parkette Invitational (age 14): 1st AA, 1st B, 1st FX, 2nd V

2003
American Classic: 4th AA
Pan American Games: 1st Team, 1st FX
Podium Meet: 5th AA
US Championships: 8th AA
US Classic: 4th AA
WOGA Classic: 2nd AA

2004
US Championships: 8th AA
US Classic: 1st AA
US Olympic Trials: 14th AA