Gymnast: Sarah Finnegan

Sarah Finnegan was an alternate to the 2012 Olympic team and is expected to be a big star for the US in 2013 and beyond.

Finnegan has one of the highest D-scores of anyone in the world on balance beam. Her jam-packed routine includes a triple turn low to the beam that's named after club teammate and 2004 Olympian Terin Humphrey, as well as a standing Arabian to back handspring swing down, and a two-foot layout acrobatic series.

Finnegan earned the silver medal on beam behind 2012 Olympian and eventual Olympic bronze medalist Aly Raisman at the 2012 US nationals (called the Visa Championships).

Watch Sarah Finnegan on beam.

Finnegan isn't afraid to dream big, or to state it publicly: she told USA Gymnastics in her official bio that her goal was to win the Olympic all-around in 2012. Though American teammate Gabby Douglas earned that honor, Finnegan did make the London squad as an alternate (officially called a replacement athlete). With many of the Fierce Five expected to retire or take time off after London, Finnegan could well be a leader on the US team in the coming years.

Besides her beam work, Finnegan does an impressive Arabian double front pike (at :23) and whip to immediate Arabian double front tucked (at 1:13) on floor. On bars she performs a toe-on Shaposhnikova-half (at :15) and a piked Jaeger (at :31). Finnegan has trained an Amanar but hasn't competed it yet. She did a double-twisting Yurchenko in 2012.

Watch Sarah Finnegan:

• Finnegan on vault (2012 US nationals)
• Finnegan on bars (2012 US nationals)
• Finnegan on beam (2012 US nationals
• Finnegan on floor (2012 US nationals)

Finnegan earned sixth all-around and won floor at her first junior elite nationals in 2010. One year later, she placed third all-around at the 2011 US nationals behind Katelyn Ohashi and future 2012 Olympian Kyla Ross, respectively. She also won the bronze on beam.

In 2012, Finnegan's first year as a senior elite, she earned sixth all-around again at both the US nationals and Olympic Trials.

Finnegan was born on Nov. 14, 1996 to parents Don and Linabelle Finnegan. She has three sisters -- Hannah, Jennah and Aleah – who also do gymnastics. The Finnegans call St. Louis their hometown.

Sarah Finnegan is coached by Al Fong and Armine Barutyan Fong at Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE). In addition to Terin Humphrey, Fong and Barutyan Fong also coached 2004 Olympian Courtney McCool.

Finnegan began gymnastics in 1999, and says floor and balance beam are her favorite events.

Finnegan names math as her favorite subject in school, likes to listen to Christian pop music, and eat mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.

Finnegan's Twitter account is @sfinnegan37, and her Facebook page is facebook.com/sarahfinneganfans.

International:

• 2012 City of Jesolo Trophy: 1st team; 3rd all-around; 6th vault; 7th bars (tie); 4th beam; 3rd floor
• 2010 Pan American Championships: 1st team; 3rd beam

National:

• 2012 US Olympic Trials: 6th all-around, 6th bars; 5th beam; 6th floor
• 2012 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 6th all-around; 2nd beam; 4th floor
• 2012 Secret US Classic: 3rd beam (tie); 2nd floor
• 2011 Visa Championships (Junior Division): 3rd all-around; 5th bars; 3rd beam
• 2011 CoverGirl Classic (Junior Division): 4th all-around; 3rd bars (tie); 7th beam; 1st floor
• 2010 Visa Championships (Junior Division): 6th all-around; 4th beam; 1st floor

Other Top American Gymnasts:
Jordyn Wieber
McKayla Maroney
Kyla Ross
Gabby Douglas