Shields, 11, is the daughter of Ralph and Laura Forman Shields of Grain Valley and the granddaughter of Trenton residents Scott and Carolyn Forman.
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Shields and her partner, who is 19-years-old, took first in the Henryka Ghmlelewski International Acro Gymnastics Tournament, where they competed at the elite level for the first time. The tandem had competed in Poland the year before and took sixth place. They also competed in an international competition in the United Kingdom and took second there. This time around, however, everything clicked for Shields and Henthorn as they came away with the gold.
Shields and Henthorn are the only duo competing at the elite level from the United States. The team works out of Ronda’s Total Technique in Dance Studio in Blue Springs.
Shields knows how important teamwork is in the sport of team acrobatic gymnastics.
“We have a lot of faith and confidence in each other,” Shields said. “We like each other and trust each other.”