Gymnast: Bridget Sloan

Bridget Sloan was the alternate to the 2007 team that won World gold. This year, she made the Olympic team with solid performances at the final training camp.

The Surprise Sixth:

Though Sloan was always in the running for the Olympic team, few thought she would be named to the final six after a disastrous performance on day two of the Olympic Trials. With falls on beam and floor and a sub-par bars score, the spot seemed likely to go to Shayla Worley or Jana Bieger.

But Sloan refused to give up. She said after the Olympic Trials, “Everyone has bad days so you just have to overcome that. Next time I will be 100% ready and will be able to show that I’m totally self-confident and can hit.”

At the final selection camp, she nailed all of her events on both days of competition, making good on her word. She proved that she was ready to be on the team, and the selection committee agreed.

Beijing Experience:

Sloan won the bronze medal in the all-around and the silver on floor at the Good Luck Beijing test event for the Olympics. This gave her a slight edge at the Olympics: she’d been on the equipment and in the arena before, and had adjusted to the time change and extensive travel required to compete in China.

An Intense Competitor:

Since she often has a serious face during competition, Sloan worries that the audience thinks she's unhappy. She explains, “People tell me to smile more, but I can’t be smiling, I’m focused! It’s not nerves, and I really love this sport and love competing. I just have to stay focused.”

Cool Skills:

Sloan does a back 1 1/2 to triple full tumbling pass on floor, an inside stalder to toe-on reverse hecht (at :37) on bars and a front aerial to Arabesque (at 2:20) on beam.

Personal Info:

Born on June 23, 1992, in Pittsboro, IN, Bridget Sloan is the youngest daughter of Jeff and Mary Sloan. She has two older brothers (Kyle and Nathan), and an older sister Kassie. She attends Tri-West High school, where her favorite subject is science. She enjoys Chinese food and R&B music.

Sloan began gymnastics in 1996, and trains at Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy with coach Marvin Sharp. Her favorite events are beam and floor, and unlike most gymnasts, she choreographed the dance in her own floor routine.

Gymnastics Results:

International:

• 2008 Olympics: 2nd team
• 2007 Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Event: 3rd all-around; 4th beam; 2nd floor
• 2007 World Championships: 1st team (reserve athlete)
• 2006 International Gymnix: 2nd all-around; 3rd vault

National:

• 2008 US Olympic Trials: 8th bars
• 2008 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 3rd bars; 7th beam
• 2007 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 5th all-around; 5th bars; 2nd floor
• 2007 US Classic: 1st all-around; 3rd vault; 2nd bars; 3rd beam; 3rd floor
• 2006 Visa Championships (US Nationals – Jr. Division): 4th vault; 4th bars; 3rd beam
• 2005 Visa Championships (US Nationals – Jr. Division): 14th all-around; 9th vault

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