C. J. Maestas
{{short description|American artistic gymnast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name = C. J. Maestas
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| full_name = Christopher Maestas
| country = United States
| formercountry =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|05|26}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| training =
| height = 5 ft 4 in
| discipline = MAG
| natlteam = 2011–2017
| gym = USOTC
| collegeteam = Illinois Fighting Illini
| headcoach = Justin Spring
| assistcoach =
| formercoach =
| eponymousskills =
| retired = {{Circa|2016}}
| worldranking =
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's artistic gymnastics}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCount
|Pan American Games|0|0|2
|Pan American Championships|1|0|0
| total = yes
}}
{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}
{{MedalBronze|2011 Guadalajara|Team}}
{{MedalBronze|2011 Guadalajara|Rings}}
{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2014 Mississauga|Team}}
}}
Christopher "C. J." Maestas (born May 26, 1992) is a retired American artistic gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team.
Early life and education
Maestas was born on May 26, 1992, to Frank and Cindy Maestas.{{Cite news |last=Huth |first=Jeff |date=April 19, 2012 |title=Maestas: Wait worth it |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/maestas-wait-worth-it/article_c2ea6500-12b2-5f97-ba1f-15adf626d7ca.html |newspaper=The News-Gazette |location=Champaign, Illinois |access-date=August 16, 2024}} He attended Cibola High School and later attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to pursue gymnastics as a highly sought after recruit.{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Daniel |date=March 12, 2015 |title=Illinois men's gymnastics Maestas looking for one last hurrah |url=https://dailyillini.com/uncategorized/2015/03/12/illinois-mens-gymnastics-maestas-looking-for-one-last-hurrah/ |newspaper=The Daily Illini |access-date=August 16, 2024}} While originally intending to start in Fall 2010, he needed to retake the ACT multiple times and enrolled in Fall 2011. Prior to admittance to Illinois, Maestas trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado.{{Cite news |last=Hersh |first=Philip |date=September 21, 2011 |title=Olympic stop attainable for Illinois' Maestas |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/09/21/olympic-stop-attainable-for-illinois-maestas/ |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 16, 2024}}
Gymnastics career
Maestas was a full-scholarship member of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team for collegiate competition. He was the NCAA champion on the rings at the 2012 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships. He was also the horizontal bar champion at the 2015 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship. While a member of the Fighting Illini, he was a member of the 2012 NCAA team championship.
Domestically, Maestas placed highly in the rings at multiple Winter Cup and USA Gymnastics National Championships events.
Internationally, Maestas represented the United States at the 2011 Pan American Games and won a bronze medal in the team all-around. He was also a member of the 2014 Pan American Gymnastics Championships team that won a gold medal.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Sports links}}
{{Navboxes
|title = NCAA Championships for C. J. Maestas
|titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}
|list =
{{Footer NCAA Gymnastics Rings Champions (Men)}}
{{Footer NCAA Gymnastics Horizontal Bar Champions (Men)}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maestas, C. J.}}
Category:American male artistic gymnasts
Category:Gymnasts at the 2011 Pan American Games
Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in gymnastics