College Sports

Rising Local Star: Claire Driscoll’s Journey Through Gymnastics

Claire May 27, 2025 by Staff Writer At just 10 years old, Claire Driscoll is already making waves in the gymnastics world. A dedicated and driven athlete, Claire began her gymnastics journey at the age of four. What started as recreational classes quickly turned into something more when she was invited into the Rising Stars […]

Published

on


Claire

May 27, 2025 by Staff Writer

At just 10 years old, Claire Driscoll is already making waves in the gymnastics world. A dedicated and driven athlete, Claire began her gymnastics journey at the age of four. What started as recreational classes quickly turned into something more when she was invited into the Rising Stars pre-team program — a developmental path designed to prepare young gymnasts for the USA Gymnastics (USAG) competitive track.

Claire currently competes in the USAG Developmental Program, formerly known as the Junior Olympic (JO) Program. This rigorous program includes ten levels, and Claire has impressively advanced through Level 7. She is now training for Level 8 with her sights set on the 2026 competitive season.

Her accomplishments speak for themselves. Claire won her first State Championship at age 7 in Level 3 (2022) and has since claimed two more titles — in Level 6 (2024) and Level 7 (2025). These achievements make her one of the youngest gymnasts in Massachusetts to reach this level of success. Most recently, she played a key role in helping her Level 7 team take first place in the Massachusetts USAG State Championship.

Claire’s talent has been recognized on a regional level as well. She qualified two years in a row to represent Massachusetts on the State Team at the USAG Regional Championship, competing against athletes from across New England and New York. There, she earned 1st place on Vault — two years in a row — with an impressive score of 9.90, along with 2nd place on Beam and 4th in the All-Around.

Claire trains at Head Over Heels Gymnastics Center in Norwell, where she practices four days a week for a total of 15 hours. Her training spans the entire year and is guided by her three veteran coaches — Cynthia, Patty, and JC — whom she deeply admires and appreciates. In addition to practice, Claire competes in nine meets per season and continues to push herself to develop new and complex skills. Recent skills in the works include a backflip and aerial on the balance beam, full-twisting layouts on the floor, and a Tsukahara vault — a skill involving a backflip off the vault table.

Claire maintains a strong connection with her teammates and looks up to the older girls on the team for guidance and inspiration. That camaraderie and mentorship play a significant role in her continued growth and joy in the sport.

Off the mat, Claire is just like any other 10-year-old. She enjoys shopping, traveling, biking through Wompatuck State Park, swimming, diving, and even a bit of volleyball. She cherishes time spent with friends and family, especially around the fire pit, and loves keeping up with the latest dance trends and music.

Claire’s dream is to reach Level 10 — the highest tier in the USAG Developmental Program — and from there, earn a spot on a Division 1 college gymnastics team. With only 62 colleges in the country offering Division 1 gymnastics, the road ahead is undoubtedly competitive. But if her current path is any indication, Claire has both the talent and the tenacity to get there.

As her family puts it, “This sport is incredibly demanding — it takes discipline, courage, and an unwavering love for what you do. Watching Claire perform these skills is as nerve-wracking as it is exhilarating. We are so proud of her.”

To follow Claire’s inspiring journey, you can find her on Instagram: @clairedriscoll_gymnast2032



Link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

Exit mobile version