Harlem’s ZaQuae Carter and Bailey “BJ” Mensah, both products of theWendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), turned in superb performances during the November 16-19 30thFederation International Gymnastic (FIG) World Age Championships in Birmingham, England.
ZaQuae Carter Big Win
ZaQuae Carter, who recently turned 17, won a Bronze Medal during the Men’s Tumbling in the 15-16 age group. He secured a medal for the United States as gymnasts from 23 different nations earned medals. He is a senior at A. Phillip Randolph High School in Manhattan.
“Winning the Bronze Medal feels like a first-step accomplishment for myself,” Carter said. “It shows that the training I’ve been doing has been helpful. I didn’t really surprise myself; I was just happy that I was able to get a medal.
“This will have a great influence on my confidence because it shows that I still have room to improve. I was able to get a Bronze Medal, but the goal is to go for Gold.”
Bailey “BJ” Mensah’s Performance
Mensah, 18, reached the finals of the Men’s Double Mini Trampoline 17–21-year-old competition following a No. 1 showing in the qualification round. Overall, he finished 8th. He is a freshman and attends Bowie State in Maryland.
“It felt great to make the finals since it was my first international finals while competing in the Double Mini Trampoline internationally,” Mensah said.
Mensah competed a few days earlier in the World Championships – also in Birmingham – and was a member of the USA team’s fourth-place showing during the Tumbling competition. Carter was an alternate for the USA team in the World Championships.
Gymnastics Hall of Fame Member Wendy Hilliard Chimes In
“The achievement of having two athletes represent the USA in both the World Championships and World Age Group Championships was remarkable,” said Wendy Hilliard, WHGF founder and CEO. “It’s a testament to the years of hard work from athletes and coaches, supported by dedicated parents.
“Alongside these accomplishments in Birmingham, connecting with WHGF Alumni Nasrullah “Nas” Abdul-Rahman, a former teammate of BJ and ZaQuae who recently joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet 2, was a highlight. Investing in young individuals who utilize gymnastics to inspire other youth is always worthwhile.”
Prior to his appearance in Birmingham, Mensah qualified for two internationally sanctioned events: the 2023 West Palm Beach World Cup in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the 2023 Coimbra World Cup in Coimbra, Portugal.
Both Carter and Mensah have been involved in tumbling from a young age, first training with the WHGF and then later training at CAVU with coach Roger Walker, a former World Champion who began training top WHGF athletes at theCAVU Trampoline & Tumbling in New Jersey due to the COVID shutdown of the WHGF facility in Harlem.
Moreover, Harlem natives Mensah and Carter are no strangers to the FIG World Age Group Competitions.
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In 2021, Mensah finished as the top American tumbling performer in his age division at the 28th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Baku, Azerbaijan. A scholarship athlete for the WHGF, Mensah is also the son of pioneering Rhythmic Gymnast sensation Wendy Hilliard and finished 13th out of 32 worldwide performers in the 15–16-year-old division.
In 2022, Carter made his international competition debut at the 29th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Sofia, Bulgaria, and at only 16 years old, he finished seventh in the world, with an overall score of 23.900.
Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation
Hilliard founded WHGF, which started in Harlem in 1996 and expanded to her hometown in Detroit in 2016. Since its inception, WHGF has provided FREE and low-cost gymnastics to underserved communities serving 25,000 urban youth. The two locations comprise over 25 instructors and staff members. WHGF elite athletes have won four national championships, competed in two world championships, and been a member of six USA Gymnastics National Teams.
