Elias Edwards, a 16-year-old gymnast from Louisville, is set to compete in the Xfinity U.S. Championships for a spot on the USA Gymnastics junior national team. The teen is the only Nebraska junior gymnast to qualify this year.
The top 16 junior male gymnasts in the county get a chance to compete at the Xfinity U.S. Championships. The top two finishers there secure a spot on the USA Men’s Junior National team. If Edwards fails to place first or second, he could still snag one of four spots on the team chosen by USA gymnastics’ selection committee.
Edwards' most recent accolade was placing 12th at the 2026 Men's Development Program National Championships in May. That’s when he found out he qualified for the Xfinity U.S. Championships. That left him and his coach, Andrew Zymball, with 12 weeks to prepare for the championship.
“The past six weeks have been quite a grind of getting into routine shape, then really polishing those routines, trying to make them look as good as we can,” Zymball said. “... It's all kind of boiled to this moment.”
Edwards started gymnastics at age 8 with ZnZ Gymnastics Center in Omaha because his mother wanted a way to get his energy out. But he first realized his love for the sport at his first nationals meet.
“It was like, wow, I'm really doing good … I love that I can be up here to do my stuff, have fun and know that I'm one of the best,” Edwards said.
Zymball started coaching Edwards 2019, right after he graduated from college. Zymball said that besides occasionally complaining about conditioning, Edwards has always been a great talent in gymnastics.
“He's just always been an exceptional kid inside and outside the gym. Always respectful and always willing to put in the work and does whatever is asked of him,” Zymball said.
The 30-year-old coach is a former University of Nebraska gymnast. He has coached three athletes to spots on the Junior Development National Team. Zymball said his coaching philosophy focuses on three traits athletes need to show.
“You have to be strong enough to do it. You have to believe you can do it, and you have to love what you do,” Zymball said.
Edwards, who has dedicated half of his life to the sport, has all three elements. The incoming high school junior spends around 25 hours a week on gymnastics and physical conditioning. The teen understands that he will have to miss out on certain things in order to achieve his goal; to be great.
Edwards suffered a mild injury a week before the championship, but he will still be able to compete. With clearance from medical professionals and proper precautionary measures, Edwards plans to focus on being mentally strong for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I have nothing to lose here, so just gonna go out there, do what I know how to do, and enjoy it,” Edwards said.
Edwards is set to compete Thursday and Saturday in Phoenix. Six members of the NU men's gymnastics team will also be participating in the competition’s senior division. In his routine, he will be trying out new and more complex skills that are used at the NCAA and Olympic levels.
Edwards hopes to compete in college and one day represent team USA.