Alexa Paino at U.S. Trials of Baton Twirling at the at USC Aiken earlier this year.
Before 12-year-old Alexa Paino took the floor for her routine at the Junior Women’s Rhythmic Twirl U.S. Trials — the highest competition for a junior American twirler — she grounded herself with a powerful reminder.
“I wasn’t comparing myself to the other competitors; I kept telling myself to stay focused on myself and enjoying the experience,” Alexa, a rising eighth grader at St. Mark’s Catholic School in Vienna, said. “Trusting my training always helps me with the pressure and get past some trouble I have with confidence.”
It’s a strategy that anyone, of any age, can benefit from while chasing big goals, and the mindset paid off for Alexa at the Trials in March. Facing more scrutiny than usual, with four additional judges on the panel compared to standard competitions, Paino took fourth place, earning a ticket as an alternate to the 2026 World Freestyle and Rhythmic Twirl Competition this August. Taking place in Paris this year, the event is what the U.S. Twirling Association calls “the twirling equivalent of the Olympic Games.”
Twirling combines gymnastics and dance while requiring powerful hand-eye coordination, making it very similar to the Olympic sport of rhythmic gymnastics. After performing a captivating two-and-a-half-minute routine to the song 'Tomorrow' from the musical Annie, Alexa earned her spot as the youngest member of this year’s Team USA.
The determined twirler is ready for international competition. She continues to train tirelessly for the world stage, when representatives from 25 countries will face off.
"I'm ready to jump in if my team needs me,” she said. “I'd love the chance to compete, but either way, I’m so excited. If I'm not on the floor, I'll be in the stands cheering everyone on and spreading positive, supportive energy."
Even though Alexa has long demonstrated exceptional talent, she shocked herself with her U.S. Trials performance.
“Going into a competition against 15 girls aged 12 to 17, I didn't expect anything,” Alexa said. “But I made it to the top six for finals and then I placed fourth. I was just so surprised."
This underscores Alexa’s deep humility. She is a seasoned twirler, having started the sport as a toddler.
"I’m a second-generation baton twirler. My mom did it when she was younger — marching in all the parades — so she took me to my first practice when I was just two years old. By the time I was three, I was already competing. None of my friends twirl, so they all think it’s really cool."
While her mom, Mandy, was the first Paino to pick up a baton, she noted that Alexa has taken the family tradition to an entirely new level.
"I was pretty competitive back in the day, but nowhere near what she’s doing," Mandy said. "I retired when I was 18 and hadn’t thought about twirling much. Before she was born, people on Facebook knew we were having a girl, and connecting with old twirling friends made me think that my daughter might enjoy it.”
Mandy had no idea just how much Alexa would take to it.
“She is completely self-motivated,” Mandy said. “We always give her the choice to step away after the season ends, but she always wants to go back. One year, she did want to quit, but she only lasted 12 days before she came to us wanting to go back.”
Alexa trains 22 hours a week, primarily with the Wheaton Dance Twirl Teams in Montgomery County, Maryland. This is a top-notch program, sending two girls to Paris this summer.
Alexa manages the demanding schedule by turning commutes into study halls, completing her homework in the car while traveling from Northern Virginia to the Maryland studio three afternoons a week.
What Alexa loves most about twirling is that it fuses components of multiple disciplines.
"You get to do a little bit of everything, gymnastics and dance underneath the baton,” she said. “There’s also so much you can do with the baton, which is pretty light and has to be fitted to your arm length. I’ve even used three for some routines.”
And even though it might seem that Alexa has already reached the pinnacle of the sport, she plans to keep twirling for years to come.
“I want to go to [Bishop O’Connell High School], and I'm really hoping to start a baton twirling team there,” Alexa said. “I think it’s a sport that is very overlooked, and it should be more available for people to try. I love showing my friends videos of it, and they are always so supportive. I’d love to get more of them involved.”
In the meantime, she’s looking forward to multiple competitions this summer, including the main event in Paris. With other international experiences under her belt, she has an admirable outlook on high stakes competition.
“I get to meet so many friends from other places around the world at these events, and I love that,” Alexa said. “But what I think I’m most looking forward to is spending time with my mom, maybe even at Disneyland Paris. I know things will turn out best if I stay calm and just enjoy the whole experience.”