In the last few years, Shayla Worley has really made a name for herself on the national and international gymnastics scene. After placing in the top five all-around at the past three National Championships, Shayla has established herself as one of the nation's top up-and-coming gymnasts. Over these few years, she's earned countless new fans and she's become renowned for her amazing flexibility, her impressive balance beam routines and, above all, the presence and personality that she projects when she steps onto the
competition floor.

Shayla was born September 2, 1990 in Orlando Florida. She began gymnastics at age three at a small local gym because she wanted to be a cheerleader when she grew up. Though gymnastics certainly taught her the basics of cheerleading, Shayla got more than a little bit sidetracked! At just fifteen years old, Shayla is one of the best gymnasts in the country! This past year, she competed internationally against Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Mexico, and France, she made the U.S. National team and clinched the national all-around bronze medal!

Shayla's older sister Jolene, began gymnastics in 1992 at a gym called Academy of Elite Gymnastics in the Worleys' hometown of Orlando. Shayla was too young to take classes the first year, but the following year, in 1993, she was old enough to join the toddler class. The Worley sisters attended this gym for five years during which time Shayla progressed from beginner to Level 6. In 1999, Shayla's and Jolene's coaches left the gym, prompting the girls to switch to the nearby Orlando Metro Gymnastics. Shayla began competing for Orlando Metro as a Level 7 but soon moved to Level 8 and placed well at the next year's state meet. She was the youngest competitor at Level 8 states that year, but she had the highest score of the entire field! Shayla did well at states both of the following years, winning states at Level 9 in 2001 and placing second as a Level 10 in 2002. In early 2002, just a week after the Level 10 state meet, Shayla successfully advanced to the elite levels.

2002, Shayla's first season as an elite, was an exciting one. She won the all-around at one of the biggest National Elite meets in the country, the 2002 American Challenge. She also placed first on balance beam both days of the 2002 US Challenge in Virginia! In early 2003, Shayla became eligible to compete at the sport's highest level, as an International Elite gymnast. After a few disappointing performances earlier in the season, she competed like a champion and finished seventh at the 2003 U.S. Classic, which earned her a trip to the U.S. national championships. At the national championships she finished fourth in the Junior division, winning a bronze medal on balance beam and making her first national team!

Shayla's really come into her own in 2004. She took part in her first international competitions, the Junior Pacific Alliance Championships and a dual meet against Japan. She placed third at this year's U.S. Classic, fourth at the American Classic, and was the all-around silver medalist at the Junior U.S. National Championships. She also managed to win the National silver on balance beam and bronze on uneven bars. 2005 was another impressive year for Shayla. She competed in four international meets, which included an impressive win at the U.S. vs Canada meet. The U.S. National Championships was great meet for Shayla where she placed third in the all-around, medaled on beam and bars, and made National Team for the third year in a row. 2006 was a tough season for Shayla due to hamstring injuries. She did compete in the American Cup (placing second to Nastia Liukin) and winning the silver medal at the Pacific Alliance. In 2007, Shayla came back strong after having a previous rough season.  She started the season off competing in the American Cup and then traveled to Europe (winning the gold medal on the uneven bars).  Her next meet, the U.S. National Championships, was a great meet for Shayla!  She placed second in the all-around and won the silver on the uneven bars.  Since she had such a great showing at U.S. Nationals, Shayla was chosen to be on the 2007 World Championship team.  Shayla and her USA Teammates became World Champions and made history at the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, when the USA Team won the title for the first time outside the USA. 

When she's not in the gym, Shayla likes spending time with her family. She lives on a farm in the Orlando suburb of St. Cloud and her family owns a house in Orlando, as well. She is the third of the Worley's four children. Father Lamont is a rancher and mother Debbie is a court reporter. Shayla's eldest brother, Clayton, is 25 years old and recently graduated from USF. Sister Jolene, age 23, is a former Level 10 gymnast who competed for Eastern Michigan University and recently graduated. She was the 2007 MAC All-Around Champion! and the 2008 MAC and Senior Gymnast of the year! Younger brother Olin, age 15, plays baseball. Shayla also has a whopping seven pet dogs at home and hopes to someday put her love of animals to good use as a veterinarian.

Though gymnastics is her first love, in most ways Shayla is like most other American teenagers. She is a Freshman at the University of Georgia and enjoys shopping, hanging out with friends and going to the movies when she's not working out.