British Olympian Jennifer Pinches to UCLA

British Olympian Jennifer Pinches to UCLA

Jul 15, 2013 by Anne Phillips
British Olympian Jennifer Pinches to UCLA

Photo: Jenni Pinches at the 2011 World Championships

2012 British Olympian Jennifer Pinches has announced her retirement from the British National Team, but as it turns out, her gymnastics career is not over. 

Pinches announced today via twitter that she will be doing gymnastics for UCLA. Apparently there is still business to sort out, though, as she noted the arrangement would not be made official until September. 

This is an exciting pick up for the Bruins. At age 19, Pinches has years of international elite experience and her bubbly personality will fit well into the collegiate gymnastics system. 

Pinches represented Great Britain at the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, and ended her elite career at the London Olympics. Her 55.266 all around score helped Team GB advance to the country's first ever Olympic Team Final.

Pinches trained at the well-known City of Liverpool Gymnastics club alongside fellow Olympians Hannah Whelan and Beth Tweddle. She was the 2012 British Champion on balance beam. 

Pinches likely developed a connection to the UCLA Gymnastics program through former national team teammate and good friend Danusia Francis. Francis just completed her freshman season as a Bruin and is one of the team's top performers on balance beam. 

Welcome to the NCAA, Jenni! 

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