Amy Chow is one of the magnificent 7, where she has earned for herself top honours. As one of the highest-ranking national gymnasts, she has high expectations for herself. Her parents, Susan and Nelson Chow, migrated from Hong Kong to America, and she was born on 15th May 1978 in San Jose, California. Susan who wanted very much to become a ballerina, placed hopes on the young Amy. At the age of 3, Amy was taken to her 1st dancing lesson. However, Amy was too small-sized even for the pre-school classes at the ballet academies. Disappointed, her mum put her in gymnastics classes instead.

However, Amy proved to be a lover of gymnastics. At 8 years old, Amy became the 1st elite-level gymnast produced by San Jose's West Valley Gymnastics Club.

As her skills gradually improved, she needed more time for practising. Planning her time carefully, she worked out the time for her practice, at the same time not neglecting her studies for subjects such as the pre-calculus, chemistry, pschology and even piano practicing. Her favourite event is the bars.

Personally, Chow admires Mary Lou Retton. She once said :"It was her spirit. Some gymnasts looked so concerned. They looked nervous. However, she looked calm and ready to go. she looked like she was having fun."

Amy has worked with several coaches such as Mark Young and Geza Pozsar, a colleague of Bela Karolyi who has prepared routines for famous and outstanding gymnasts such as Nadia Comanenci and Mary Lou Retton. She is presently working with coach Diana Amos.

Refer to Career highlights for further details

Career Highlights

• 1992 ~Placed 23rd in the all-around in the Coca Cola National Championships.
• 1993 ~Placed 5th in the all-around in the Coca Cola National Championships even though she had just recovered from an ankle injury.
• 1993 ~Bared a serious injury due to her reticence of not telling her coach, Diana Amos, when she tried to perfect a difficult dismount by herself. That caused her to be placed 22nd in the all-around competitions at her 1st senior National Championships.
• 1994 ~Team World Championships Silver Medalist
• 1995 ~Won a gold medal in vault competition at the Pan American games.
• 1996 ~Individual Event World Championships Semi-Finalist. Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist (Team and Bar). She became the 1st Asian-American gymnast to win a medal at an Olympics. 

Amy in action!