Early Life

 

On June 23, 1992 in Cincinnati, Ohio, a future World Champion was born. Bridget Sloan began gymnastics at the early age of four, attending Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy in Indianapolis, and her athletic career has skyrocketed since.  2007 was her breakout year as a Senior competitor, placing fifth in the all-around at the US National Championships, and claiming bronze at the Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test event. 

 

An Olympic Year

 

In 2008, as the Beijing Olympics approached, Sloan tore her meniscus while training in Italy for a competition. Surgery and rehab quickly followed, strengthening her enough to recover before the US National Championships held later that year. After competing on beam, bars and floor at the championships, Sloan secured her spot at the US Olympic Trials, where she then qualified for a position on the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team. Before qualifications, Olympic teammates Chellsie Memmel and Samantha Peszek suffered injuries, forcing them from the majority of the qualifying competition and applying the pressure to the remainder of the US team. USA was only able to compete four athletes on three of the events, counting all four scores. Sloan’s steadiness and ease under pressure aided her in performing solid routines for her country, helping to qualify the US to team finals, where they grasped the silver medal. 

 

World Champion Caliber 

 

At the 2009 US National Championships, Sloan made her mark by winning the all-around, floor, and uneven bars. It seemed that her appearance at an Olympic Games was just the beginning, and she still had yet to reach her highest potential. As a member of the US team at the London World Championships months later, Sloan made history once again. In the all-around final of the competition, she edged out fellow teammate Rebecca Bross to claim the gold medal, and became the fifth American woman to win the title. 

 

“It’s Great to be a Florida Gator!” 

 

While Sloan dreamed of earning a spot on a second Olympic team, for London 2012, an injury prevented her from competing at Olympic Trials, and her elite career came to a close; her gymnastics career, however, was far from over. 

 

In the Spring of 2013, Bridget Sloan competed her first season in the collegiate setting as a Florida Gator. Her extensive World and Olympic experience gave her a huge edge over her competition, and she lead her teammates through a successful season, ending with the greatest accomplishment a collegiate team can possibly obtain- a National Championship title. The University of Florida had finally won their very first Championship, and were officially etched in the collegiate gymnastics history books as one of the greatest teams in the country. Sloan also took home the all-around and beam title, proving to fans that she was far from finished in this sport. In the season of 2014, Florida made history once again. At the NCAAs, the Gators tied with the University of Oklahoma Sooners to win the team competition- the first time in collegiate history that two universities shared the title. 

 

Bridget Sloan is undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes to have represented the US in gymnastics. After competing in two World Championships, one Olympic Games, and countless national and international competitions, Sloan’s passion for the sport drives her to continue on, excelling now at the collegiate level. In 2013, Sloan became the fourth Freshman in 37 years to win the prestigious Honda Award- an accolade presented to the best collegiate female athlete in each of twelve sports. She is now a Junior at the University of Florida, where she’s set to lead her team to a third National Championship in the Spring of 2015.