View source for Mary Sanders

{{for|the boxer|Mary Jo Sanders}}
{{Infobox gymnast
|name= Mary Sanders
|image= Mary Sanders.jpg
|imagesize=
|caption=
|fullname=Mary Sanders
|altname=
|nickname=Marebear
|country={{USA}}
|formercountry={{CAN}}
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1985|08|26}}
|birth_place=[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
|hometown=
|residence=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|height=
|discipline=RG
|natlteam=
|club=
|gym=
|collegeteam=
|headcoach=
|assistcoach=
|formercoach=
|choreographer=
|music=
|eponymousskills=
|retired=
|show-medals = yes
|medaltemplates= <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalSport | [[Rhythmic gymnastics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{CAN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Four Continents Gymnastics Championships|Four Continents Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|2001 Curitiba|All-around}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 Pan American Games|2003 Santo Domingo]] | [[Gymnastics at the 2003 Pan American Games|All-around]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 Pan American Games|2003 Santo Domingo]] | [[Gymnastics at the 2003 Pan American Games|Hoops]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 Pan American Games|2003 Santo Domingo]] | [[Gymnastics at the 2003 Pan American Games|Ball]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 Pan American Games|2003 Santo Domingo]] | [[Gymnastics at the 2003 Pan American Games|Clubs]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 Pan American Games|2003 Santo Domingo]] | [[Gymnastics at the 2003 Pan American Games|Ribbon]]}}
}}

'''Mary Sanders''' (born 26 August 1985 in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]) is an American individual [[Rhythmic gymnastics|Rhythmic Gymnast]]. Mary holds [[dual citizenship]] of both the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], as her father was American and her mother is Canadian. She began her career representing Canada but began to compete for the USA in late 2002.  Sanders is a two-time Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion and three-time U.S.A. Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion, 4 Continents Champion, 2 time Pan American Champion and earned the title of one of the most successful Rhythmic gymnast in the Western Hemisphere, alongside [[Laura Zeng]] and [[Evita Griskenas]]

==Career==
Sanders had her highest placement finishing 10th in all-around at the [[2003 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships|2003 World Championships]].

Sanders represented America in the [[2004 Olympics]] in [[Athens]], placing 15th in the qualifying round. She has since retired from rhythmic gymnastics and is employed by [[Cirque du Soleil]].  Sanders performs on a freelance basis within the Special Events department of Cirque Du Soleil, but has previously toured full-time with [[Corteo]] and [[Delirium]]. Sanders is also a creative collaborator and Spokesperson for the [[Reebok]] and Cirque du Soleil JUKARI program. More recently, Sanders was one of the Creative Directors for the 2012 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions.

As a Rhythmic Gymnast, Sanders has ranked higher at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships and Olympics than any competitor from the Western Hemisphere in history, until [[Laura Zeng]]'s performance at the [[2015 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships|2015 World Championships]].<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/summer/2004-02-17-sanders-10_x.htm Mary Sanders USATODAY Interview] USATODAY.com, February 17, 2004</ref>

Sanders was chosen for induction into the [[USA Gymnastics]] [[Hall of Fame]] in 2009.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090206185801/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/more/02/03/patterson.hall.of.fame.ap/index.html Carly Patterson Chosen for Gymnastics Hall of Fame] SI.com, February 3, 2009</ref>

==See also==
* [[Nationality changes in gymnastics]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.marysanders.ca Mary Sanders Official Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130327012217/http://kelloggstour.com/ Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions]
* [http://www.reebok.com/US/brand/jukari/MarySanders.aspx Reebok Jukari Diary]
* [http://usagym.org/pages/athletes/archivedbios/s/msanders.pdf  Mary Sanders USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Bio]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024082658/http://www.ritmika.ca/sanders.htm Ritmika Gymnastics Club profile]

{{Footer USA Gymnastics 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, Mary}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rhythmic gymnasts]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 2003 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Gymnasts from Toronto]]
[[Category:Olympic gymnasts for the United States]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2001 World Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]