LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating John Orozco upon the occasion of
winning the United States Men's Gymnastics Championship

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those esteemed individuals who distinguish themselves through
outstanding achievements in national athletic competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late John Orozco upon the occasion of winning the United States Men's
Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, June 9, 2012, in St. Louis,
Missouri; and
WHEREAS, John Orozco, 19, who grew up in the Harding Park section of
the Bronx, New York, scored 15.500 points on his floor exercise for a
two-day combined score of 184.850 in the all-around; he finished just
0.05 of a point ahead of the reigning champion, Danell Leyva, the man he
had trailed in the all-around for most of the competition; and
WHEREAS, Of the 40 men who competed at nationals, only 15 will advance
to the Olympic trials that begin on June 28, 2012, in San Jose, Califor-
nia; five of those individuals will make the Olympic team; and
WHEREAS, Nicknamed the Silent Ninja, John Orozco, who was fifth in the
all-around at the world championships last year, is on track to be one
of those gymnasts; to get to this point, he went through the national
competition without betraying much emotion, staying focused as he moved
from event to event; and
WHEREAS, Immediately after winning the championship, John Orozco
looked into the crowd to find his parents, Damaris and Will, who already
had tears of joy; and
WHEREAS, The youngest of five children, John Orozco told the crowd
that he was glad he could win the title for his parents, especially his
mother, who had recently been ill; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, John Orozco won the Junior Visa U.S. National Cham-
pionships, and became the youngest male gymnast to qualify for the elite
finals; he earned a place on the Junior National Team, representing the
USA in the Pan-American Games as an alternate and went on to compete at
the Pacific Rim Championships in 2008 and 2010, helping the team to gold
medals both times; and
WHEREAS, At the 2010 Pacific Rim Championships in Melbourne, Austra-
lia, John Orozco also won gold medals in the All-Around and Horizontal
Bar and silver medals on the pommel horse, still rings and parallel
bars; and
WHEREAS, A gifted athlete, John Orozco has become a role model in
society as well as the sport of gymnastics; his character and achieve-
ments stand as a sterling example and inspiration to all who would
aspire to success; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate John Orozco upon the occasion of winning the United States
Men's Gymnastics Championship; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Orozco.