Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion in 92129

The Paris Olympics in July and August of 2024 captured the attention and interest of people everywhere. Something about watching the striving of athletes and seeing human performance at the highest level possible is awe inspiring and challenges our own ideas of what is humanly possible.. Did you know that here in the Park Village neighborhood of Rancho Peñasquitos there is an elite athlete who is known internationally for her capability and accomplishments? Meet Megan Chu …..

She is a graceful figure adorned in dazzling color who twirls, flips, jumps and bends with the lightness and speed of a hummingbird. She rolls a ball from her shoulders to the tip of her fingers, magically sending it high into the air. She somersaults before catching it perfectly on her fingertips like metal drawn to a magnet, then continues her intricate dance with the ball.  Rhythmic Gymnastics is a mesmerizing and beautiful sport of grace and precision combining dance, agility and athleticism. San Diego’s own Megan Chu, age 16, is an elite Rhythmic Gymnast, known throughout the sport in the United States and Internationally. She finished 2nd place All-Around at US Nationals recently in her first competition at the senior age category. 

Megan’s journey to the highest levels of rhythmic gymnastics competition started here in Park Village (Rancho Peñasquitos) when she was just 4 years old! Her mom enrolled her in beginner classes because her older sister was a rhythmic gymnast at the time, and she wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps.  Early on, Megan showed promise in rhythmic gymnastics, displaying a natural flair and passion for the sport that caught the eye of her coaches and spectators alike. Recognizing her potential, Megan’s entire family made a commitment to nurture her talent, providing encouragement and support every step of the way. It’s not just Megan who lives the lifestyle of an elite athlete, her family is impacted as well. Her family consists of her mom, dad, and older sister Melody. Family weekends and vacations always need to be planned around her practice and competition schedule. Even her school life is impacted, as the constant traveling makes attending in-person school nearly impossible. As a result, she has been attending California Online Public Schools upon entering high school. 

What does it take to be this good? Now a junior in high school, she trains 36 hours a week at Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy and attends online school in the evenings. In May 2024, between trips to international competitions, Megan made time to complete 2 Advanced Placement exams. To stay healthy, Megan follows a meal plan that gives her enough energy to train and compete, while keeping an athletic figure. When not in the gym, Megan loves delving into the world of mystery and thriller books. Preparing for competitions is physically and mentally challenging, so it is important that she is resting and refueling in both aspects.  

In April 2024 she competed at the Pacific Rim Championships in Cali, Colombia, winning gold in teams and the All-Around. In 2023, at the Pan American Championships in Guadalajara, she won team gold, gold with ribbon, silver in the all-around and with ball. In July, she was one of two athletes, along with Rin Keys, selected to represent the USA at the Junior World Championships in Cluj-Napoca 

Here’s a sample of Megan’s schedule so far in 2024: 

• February 2024: Tartu Grand Prix, Tartu, Estonia – Ribbon Silver
• March 2024 Aphrodite Cup, Athens, Greece 
• March 2024 Thiais Grand Prix, Thiais, France 
• April 2024: Pacific Rim Gymnastic Championship, Cali, Colombia- All-Around Champion
• May 2024: AP Calculus and Biology exams. She passed with flying colors!
• May 2024: National Elite Qualifiers, Naperville, FL, USA
• June 2024:  Pan American Rhythmic Gymnastic Championship, Guatemala City, Guatemala – TEAM SILVER, Hoop Bronze
• June 2024: USA National Championships, Minneapolis, MN, USA – Ball National Champion, All-Around Silver
• July 2024: Looking forward to 10 days off
• New Assignment: September 2024: Aeon Cup, Tokyo, Japan
• September and November National Team Camp, Lake Placid Olympic Training Center, New York

To see Megan’s impressive resume of National and International competition results, follow this link:  Megan Chu, Achievements  To see some of her stunning performances, follow these links: 

Megan’s Ribbon Performance              Megan’s Ball Performance

Inside the heart of this petite, smiling young woman is a passion for her sport and a competitive drive to be the best. She is mentally tough, and a talented performer who recognizes the value of her family’s all encompassing commitment to her sport and her success. Here’s to Megan Chu!, San Diego’s own rhythmic gymnastics champion: May her star continue to rise and her dreams continue to soar. From everyone at the Christensen Realty Group, we wish Megan continued success as a rhythmic gymnast, as a scholar, and in life!  (August 2024)