“One of the reasons we’re so happy to be involved in the launch
of LA Gear Originals is the brand’s commitment to its hometown of Los Angeles,” says Isack Fadlon, co-owner of Sportie LA. “The event on Sunday re-enforced that commitment, and also demonstrated LA Gear’s support of the next generation, in this case, kids from all over the world.”

Fadlon is referring to the LA Lights Rhythmic Gymnastics Invitational, of which LA Gear was this year’s Official Footwear Sponsor. As you can see from these photos, this year’s competition was a pretty amazing event, with 500 professional athletes from all over the world coming to LA to strut their stuff on the last step on the road to the World Cup in Montreal. Melitina Staniouta, Liubou Charkashyna, Nataliya Leshchyk, and Katsiaryna Halkina were just a few of the Olympians on the list of outstanding athletes participating in the LA Lights event.

For many years, the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics has been hosting the world’s top
Olympic hopefuls in Rhythmic Gymnastics, a hybrid of acrobatics and classic Russian ballet. The sport got its start back in the 1940s; it’s now one of the official events of the Summer Olympic Games and is the fastest growing sport amongst American teenage females. To show its support for these young stars of USA gymnastics, LA Gear presented 2010’s 40 category winners with its newly released LA Lights shoes.

Fadlon was on hand for the competition and the awards ceremony, along with LA Gear Director of Specialty Product Lance Jackson.

To make sure no one went home empty-handed, all of the competitors were treated to specially produced LA Gear t-shirts. These were a big hit with the gymnasts, who were excited to bring the shirts back to their native countries, which included China, Russia, Belarus, and New Zealand.

“Even though many of the girls didn’t speak English, their expressions said it all,” Fadlon says.
 
The LA Lights went on sale in December 2009, at all Sportie LA stores in Los Angeles and San Diego, and online at sneaker website www.SportieLA.com/lagear.

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