Sept. 20, 2011

CHICAGO - The UIC men's and women's gymnastics teams participated in breaking the world record for the largest assembly of simultaneous handstands Saturday at Noon (CT) inside the Physical Education Building in Chicago.

There were a total of 20,478 gymnasts and fans, representing more than 300 gymnastics clubs and locations, which joined the effort to break the record and return the title to the United States. Australia held the record previously with 2,402, which was set in Melbourne in 2005 as a way to promote the World Gymnastics Championships.

UIC had twenty-four members of the gymnastics squad who participated in the world record. The initiative assisted in raising funds to support the Children's Miracle Network, an organization that gymnasts nationwide have raised more than $1.4 for since 2001.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, along with the governors of five other states (Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Nevada and Texas), officially made Sept. 17, 2011 Gymnastics Day in their respective state.