GOTW: the unstoppable Sloan

Feb 11, 2014 by Becca Reed

This week’s Gymnastike Gymnast of the Week goes to former Olympian, world champion, and reigning NCAA all-around champion, Bridget Sloan. Bridget is ranked number 1 in the nation in all-around and vault and there is no question that she is one of the nations top gymnasts.

Bridget has consistently been a high score for the Gators all season. This past weekend at Kentucky, Bridget scored a perfect 10 on beam, making her the only college athlete this season to score a 10 on two different events. Earlier this season she scored a 10 on floor at the Gator’s home opener. As recognition for her outstanding performances, Bridget has earned the SEC Gymnast of the Week title for the past four weeks. Watch Bridget's 10.0 beam below.

Bridget was a former international elite and a member of the silver medal winning 2008 Olympic team. In 2009, she went on to shine at the World Championships and became the fifth American woman to win the all-around title. After a couple of years plagued by injuries, Bridget was back in 2012 as a strong contender for the Olympic team. On the first night of the Olympic Trials, she hurt her elbow during warm-ups and her elite season was over.

In the fall of 2012, she began her collegiate career at Florida and immediately became a leader for the Gators. She was a key contributor to Florida’s first ever NCAA National Title and individually she claimed the all-around and beam titles.

Below is Bridget's 10.0 floor from earlier this season

Bridget also has a big personality to go along with her incredible gymnastics. In episode 3 of BTR with Bridget Sloan and the Florida Gators, head coach Rhonda Faehn describes Sloan and says “I can’t even put into words how awesome she is.” Teammates describe her as goofy and energetic, and always singing and dancing. Marissa King says “she always came to the gym and she was always positive and she always looking at the bright side of things and that really helps within a team.”

However, Bridget doesn’t let her bubbly personality get in the way of her training. She knows when to get focused and Faehn refers to her as a “task master.” She is also a perfectionist, as most gymnasts are, and is often her hardest critic.

Watch more of Bridget Sloan in our original series, Beyond the Routine, and make sure to keep a look for her the rest of this season as she is sure to impress.

Stats
All-around rank: 1
All-around season high: 39.75
All-around career high: 39.75
Vault rank: 1
Vault season high: 9.95
Vault career high: 9.95
Bars rank: t7
Bars season high: 9.925
Bars career high: 9.975
Beam rank: 44
Beam season high: 10
Beam career high: 10
Floor rank: 9
Floor season high: 10
Floor career high: 10

Related:
Last week's GOTW
More videos of Sloan and the Florida Gators