Greensboro youth gymnast qualifies to compete in Spain
from Heather Pflug, covering community sports/athletics for GreensboroSports.com
Matteo Giove, 14, of Greensboro, has been selected by USA Gymnastics to represent Team USA Nov. 13-16 at the 2025 World Age Group Championships (WAGCs) in Pamplona, Spain.
The son of Vince Giove and Dr. Peggy Constant, Matteo is a freshman at STEM Early College at NC A&T. He became involved in trampoline and tumbling (T&T) about seven years ago at Ultimate Air Trampoline and Tumbling in Greensboro, where his older sister, Olivia, and younger sister, Lucia, also train.
“I had never heard of trampoline and tumbling as a sport before,” explained Matteo. “One day, as we dropped off my older sister at her gymnastics practice a little early, I was playing around in the gym. I was trying to copy some of the skills my older sister had shown me when a coach saw me and suggested I try out. To my surprise, I made the team!”
T&T has four elements: trampoline, synchronized trampoline, tumbling, and double mini. Trampoline is the only T&T event currently recognized in the Olympics, but all four events hold World Championship competitions.
In Spain, Matteo will compete in trampoline and double mini, which is a two-phase trampoline routine in which the athlete lands the first flipping sequences and immediately launches into a second series of flips and twists before landing on a mat.
“What I enjoy about gymnastics is the feeling you get after working hard to achieve a skill or a connection and you finally accomplish it. It makes you feel so good inside,” Matteo said. “I also think that this has taught me to apply perseverance in other aspects of my life, such as school and other hobbies.”
He enjoys playing volleyball and reading — especially a good mystery. As a student at Brown Summit Middle School, he earned all As all three years and participated in Mock Trial, in which he was awarded the Best Attorney honor.
This will be Matteo’s first international competition. “I am extremely proud and excited to have been selected as the top 4 athlete in my age group to represent Team USA. I am also nervous for myself and teammates because we all want to give our best and hope that our best is good enough to make finals.”
Matteo said he has had a lot of support along the way in his journey — from coaches, supportive teammates, his family, teachers, and his faith, which he said has “carried me through the highs and lows.”
“To represent my country in the World Age Group Championships makes me feel proud to have the USA flag on my uniform,” he said. “I am super excited for WAGCs and whatever outcome there is. Go Team USA!”
**********Click On this link to help, by way of GoFundMe….**********
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-matteo-represent-team-usa-in-spain-for-wags-2025