Emma Spence has been called “the new Spode” because she has set a new record in the men’s floor exercise category. At 21 years and 7 months old, Spence became the youngest ever men’s double jump champion. She also became the first women’s double jump champion in history when she won the title at the age of 14. In the Women’s section, she has set a new record as well. So it seems that there are quite a few young athletes who have set new standards in their sport at an early age.
Emma Spence has been called the “perfect athlete” by many in the gymnastics community. A former All-American basketball player for the University of Florida, Emma Spence has become an all around force on the national stage. Competed in youth Olympic games all over the world including in Russia, Emma has proven that age and experience do not stop athletes from achieving greatness when it comes to the sport of floor exercise.
Not only did Emma win the gold at the U.S. championships in both the men’s and women’s divisions, but she also became the first U.S. woman to compete in the men’s and women’s international level in the event of vaulting. Spence has trained with many of the world renowned gymnasts who have become household names themselves, like Tony Little and Laurie Hanson. In the Women’s section, Emma competes against the likes of Olga Polivka, who finished second to Spence at the International Championships last year. If these records are any indication of how well Emma Spence will do this year in the Olympics, then the odds are very good that she will indeed go home with the gold!