Wow, I don’t even know where to start!!! What an AMAZING year 2008 was! Thank you to everyone for all of your support to help make my dreams come true!!!!!! It seems like we had all been waiting for this year and now its over! But what a successful year it was!!! I will NEVER forget this year for the rest of my life. 

Now onto new plans, new goals, and new dreams! I am so excited! I am back in the gym training, trying to get back in shape! (After a LONG time away!) But I am motivated to get back out there to compete at the VISA Championships ( in DALLAS!!!!!!!!!!!) I have never competed in front of a home crowd, and what a perfect year to do it! We have a camp at the end of January! I am eager to go and see everyone! It’s been a while! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! I performed at the Disson Gymnastics and Skating Spectacular on December 23. It was so much fun to do for the third year!!! It will air January 18 on NBC, so be sure to check it out! I had alot of fun working with Adi, creating my routines for the event! it was cool because this year I was able to do most of the routine by myself! Maybe choreography is in my future, who knows! :) 

I spent Christmas Eve traveling back home, and spent Christmas Day with my mom and dad. The next day I flew to Utah to visit Nina for 3 days! I had a great time seeing her and the girls on the team! They are looking really good, and I am excited to see what 2009 has in store for them

I wish you all a blessed, happy, successful, and most of all, a HEALTHY new year! All the best to YOU in 2009!!!!!!!! 

XOXO

Nastia <3 

Following a worldwide public ballot Nastia has been voted the United States Sports Academy’s 2008 Female Athlete of the Year. Olympic gold medalists claimed the top three spots in both the male and female categories with Nastia finishing ahead of diver Guo Jinjing (China) and tennis player Serena Williams (USA). In the men’s ballot Michael Phelps (USA) edged Rodger Federer (Switzerland) and Usain Bolt (Jamaica).

The United States Sports Academy Athlete of the Year award is the culmination of the Academy’s year long Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in sports around the world. The Academy’s Athlete of the Month is selected by an international voting committee of former athletes, media, sports organizations and governing bodies. Thank you to everyone who voted for Nastia.

Nastia joined Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson and other Olympians as special guests on the official White House Christmas Video. Be sure to check it out here.

The 13th Annual Valeri Liukin Invitational was held this past weekend in Frisco.  Nastia was really happy to be able to be back in Texas to support her father at this event.  While she was home she sat down for an interview with Anne Phillips of gymnastike.org.   Click below to watch the interview and visit gymnastike.org or woga.net for more coverage from the event.

Nastia has been on a promotional tour for Vanilla Star Jeans, meeting fans and celebrating the launch of her new line of clothing Nastia Gold by Vanilla Star Jeans. Check out this video and interview from an appearance at Macy’s in New York City!

Nastia is on the cover of the December 12 issue of WWD Beauty Biz. Be sure to read the article “Strength Training with Nastia Liukin” (including some great photographs from her shoot with Guy Aroch) online now.

Nastia recently caught up with John Crumlish from International Gymnast to reflect on the amazing year she has had and what lies ahead. Click here to read the article.

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I got to spend mine with my family in Russia! While I was there I also performed in Alexei Nemov’s annual gymnastics gala. It was so much fun! There were gymnasts, artistic, rhythmic, acro, tumbling and trampoline. There were dancers, and also figure skaters. It was so cold in Moscow, started to snow the day we got there! The day before we went to Russia,I went to Marseille, France for the Gala there.

After Moscow, my parents and I got to go to Paris!!! I have always wanted to go there and I finally got the chance! We spent two days just walking around the city, going to museums, shopping and eating at really good restaurants! I will post some pictures soon

Now that tour is finally over, I am getting back in the gym and started to get in shape! It feels so good to be back at WOGA. I am still traveling quite a bit, mostly promoting my new line of jeans from Vanilla Star Jeans which came out this week!!! It will be for sale at Macy’s & Wet Seal. 

I also did a Toy Drive at WOGA Frisco today with Carly for the Dallas Morning News Charity. It was so amazing to see how many people came and brought toys for the children! I wanted to thank everyone that came out and supported such a great cause! I love the Holiday season, and it always makes me feel good to give, especially to a charity! 

Later this month I am going to be performing in the Gymnastics & Skating Spectacular in South Dakota. This will be my third time doing it. It is such a fun show to take part in, so I am very excited!!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

XOXO

Nastia

Carly & me with all the toys!

Please note the correction to the time of Nastia’s appearance below:

Nastia will be making an appearance for Vanilla Star Jeans at Bealls in Bradeton, FL on 6 December. Nastia is looking forward to signing autographs and meet with her fans. Details of the appearance are as follows: Bealls, 6355 Manatee Ave West, Bradeton, FL 34209 — Located in Fountain court center (12:00 - 2:00pm).

Nastia has been nominated for the United States Sports Academy’s 2008 Female Athlete of the Year. The award, presented annually, recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in any sport from around the globe. Nominations are made by a committee comprised of former athletes, media, sports organizations and governing bodies from around the world. Past winners of the award include: Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Mia Hamm, Michael Jordan, Annika Sorenstam, Tiger Woods and fellow WOGA gymnast Carly Patterson. Nastia also received a nomination for this award in 2005.

Starting 1 December, sports fans worldwide can vote online for the 2008 United States Sports Academy Athlete of the Year, presented by USATODAY.com and NBCSports.com. Last year, the ballot attracted nearly half a million votes from around the globe. Votes will be collected from 1-24 December. The ballot will be located on a website hosted by the Academy and will be available through direct links from USATODAY.com Sports content and NBCSports.com.

To support Nastia and submit your vote, visit http://www.usatoday.com/sports/front.htm, http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28000687/ or http://vote.ussa.edu/aoy.

Nastia will be making an appearance for Vanilla Star Jeans at Macy’s Herald Square in New York on 8 December. Nastia is looking forward to signing autographs and meet with her fans. Details of the appearance are as follows: Macy’s Herald Square- Junior Department (4th Floor), 151 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001 (5:00 - 7:00pm)