Nina McGee was a bright spot and a game-changer for the University of Denver from 2012-2016. She was a crowd pleaser on floor along with being a stellar all-arounder. McGee was a big contributor to the rise of Denver, setting many new records in her time as a Pioneer. She became the first NCAA Champion at the school, winning the floor title in 2016.



FloGymnastics recently caught up with McGee to talk about life after gymnastics. 

FloGymnastics: What have you been up to since graduating in 2015?

McGee: I graduated in 2015 but finished competing in 2016 for Denver. I started my masters in 2016 while in my final season and just recently got my masters in marketing (August 2016). I work for Penske truck rental in Denver. I am moving back home to Cincinnati following graduation. 

What are you looking forward to most about being back home? 

I am looking forward to being back in Cincinnati area and being closer to my family. I plan to continue to work for Penske and finish up one final class. I am planning to spend some time traveling including trips to New York and Europe next year. 

When you look back at your career at Denver, what moments stand out to you the most? 

Two moments stand out the most to me, the first being the 2016 NCAA Championships. It was incredible to win the floor title. The second moment was my first competition back after surgery during my sophomore year. The atmosphere with the crowd was very emotional. 

You hold many records at DU, including being the first NCAA champion . . . what does that mean to you?

I am more appreciative than anything after so much uncertainty with my injury. My accomplishments are just showing my gratitude for my coaches and teammates for taking a chance on me. 

What are you most proud of as a Denver Pioneer? 

When I started at Denver we were ranked No. 20 in the country and when I graduated we were in the top 10! I am proud we were able to come together as a group effort and improve every day and every year. The community in and out of athletics was phenomenal and I am thankful for such a great sense of community being so far away from home. 

What is next for you personally? What are your future goals?

I hope to continue to strengthen my relationship with my boyfriend. I plan to take two years off of school and then go back to school for guidance counseling. I want to work with underprivileged children in middle school/junior high. 

What do you miss most about being an NCAA gymnast?

I miss getting ready for competitions. I miss flying through the air and tumbling. I miss the team camaraderie along with my head coach Melissa. I miss traveling and seeing friends on other teams along with making new friends. 

What do you attribute the success of the program to during your time at Denver? 

We really did a self-assessment as a team and found that we were lacking attention to detail. We began to focus on trusting each other and ourselves in pushing for change. We started taking risks with skills and putting new people in the lineup. These changes catapulted us to a new team. Melissa did not want any of us to have regrets so she showed great trust in us and allowed us to go for skills we wanted to compete. 

Anything else you would like to share with us?

Denver wasn't in my top schools of choice -- they actually found me. But when I chose DU, I trusted my gut and Melissa was the coach for me. Once I made my decision I never looked back. I had a great vibe from Denver. My advice to younger gymnasts looking at colleges: don't let people pressure you, make your own decision. 


Stay tuned to FloGymnastics for more interviews with your favorite NCAA graduates. 


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