Release via Bruin Athletics

UCLA gymnast Jennifer Pinches has medically retired due to wrist injuries, Bruin head coach Valorie Kondos Field announced today. Pinches, a junior, will remain on the team as an undergraduate assistant coach.

Pinches’ training had been significantly impacted in 2015 due to the injuries, limiting her to mainly just floor exercise. Her consistency in competition never suffered, however, as she hit all 11 routines she competed and 31 of 32 routines (97%) in her career. As a key leadoff competitor, she averaged 9.793 on floor over her career and 9.813 on vault in 2015. She had career-best scores of 9.875 on floor and 9.85 on vault. Pinches came to UCLA in 2013-14 after retiring from gymnastics following the 2012 Olympics. During her freshman year, she competed primarily as the leadoff on vault and floor and averaged 9.797 on floor. Additionally, she won the team’s Golden Paw Award for her clutch performance at the NCAA Regional Championships.

“Jen has been amazing for us in every way,” said Kondos Field. “It will be sad not to have her training and competing because she has a great competitive spirit. But she has already proven to be priceless in her new non-competitive role this summer by helping the freshmen acclimate to college life as a student-athlete.”

In 2012, Pinches competed at the Olympic Games in London, helping Great Britain finish a national all-time best sixth in the team competition. Prior to the Olympics, she won the balance beam title and was second in the all-around and on vault at the 2012 British Championships and won bronze medals in the all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise at the 2011 British Championships. Pinches represented Great Britain in 2010 and 2011 at the World Championships.

“After retiring from elite gymnastics in 2012, I rediscovered my passion for the sport, so despite this turn of events, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to perform again, on the NCAA stage,” Pinches said. “It’s upsetting to have to really say goodbye to competing this time, but the best decision has been made for my long-term health. I’ve loved every second of my journey with this inspirational team of Bruins, who are more like family to me now, and it’s not all over yet, as I’m looking forward to seeing what I can offer in my new role as an undergraduate assistant coach. I’d like to say the biggest thank you to everyone who has made my gymnastics career possible. I couldn’t have done it alone.”

Watch Jennifer earn a career-best 9.875 on floor: 




Related:
Jennifer training floor at 2015 NCAA Nationals