Photographing the 2026 U.S. Classic in Hartford: 10 Years with USA Gymnastics
There is something special about photographing a competition that feels both familiar and unforgettable.
The 2026 U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, marked my 10th year photographing with USA Gymnastics and my third year capturing this incredible event at PeoplesBank Arena. A decade of walking into arenas with my cameras in hand, watching athletes chase their dreams, and documenting the moments that define their journeys is something I never take for granted.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of photographing some of the biggest moments in gymnastics. Every competition brings a new story to tell. The nerves before a routine, the focus in an athlete’s eyes, the excitement of hitting a skill, and the emotions that follow when a goal is achieved.
As photographers, we have the unique opportunity to preserve those fleeting moments. The images we create become memories that athletes, families, coaches, and fans can return to for years to come.
This year’s U.S. Classic was especially meaningful because it was close to home and because my family was able to share a piece of this world with me.
I was on the competition floor doing what I love, photographing the athletes, capturing the energy of the arena, and telling their stories through my lens while my husband and our one-year-old son watched from the stands.
My husband has attended premiere elite events with me before, but this was my son’s first time experiencing a premier elite gymnastics competition. Knowing he was sitting in the arena watching me work was a moment I will always remember.
There was something incredibly special about looking up from the floor and seeing my family there. My son is still too young to understand the lights, the routines, the cameras, or the significance of these competitions, but someday I hope he looks back and knows he was part of this journey from the very beginning.
One of the greatest gifts of photographing an event close to home is that I get to experience both sides of the journey. I get to go to work doing something I love, capture incredible athletes during important moments in their careers, and then come home to my own family at the end of the day.
After years of traveling from city to city, living out of suitcases, and chasing the next competition, there is something truly meaningful about being able to stay close to home. To step onto the competition floor and then return to the people who support me most is a reminder of how special this career has been.
This journey has never been just about the photographs. It’s always been about the people, the places, the athletes, and the moments that make each competition unforgettable. It has been about telling stories through images and preserving memories that might otherwise pass by too quickly.
Ten years with USA Gymnastics has brought me countless incredible opportunities, and I am grateful for every arena, every athlete, and every story I have been trusted to capture. But the journey continues.
I’m packing my bags again and heading to Phoenix for the Xfinity Championships, ready for another opportunity to photograph the dedication, determination, and heart that define this sport.
Thank you, USA Gymnastics, for another unforgettable U.S. Classic. And thank you to my family for supporting this journey. From the stands, from home, and wherever the next competition takes me. See you soon, Arizona!
