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KATIE HEENAN
Katherine Elaine Heenan, known as Katie (born November 26, 1985, in Indianapolis, Indiana), was a seven-time U.S.
National gymnast and currently competes for the Georgia Gym Dogs.
Katie began gymnastics as a toddler and quickly rose to the elite level in 1997, at the age of 11. She competed in her first national
championships in 1998 and placed sixth on beam in the junior division. She sat out the 1999 season due to an injury, but came back in 2000
to place fourth on bars and ninth in the all around at the junior national U.S. Championships.
Katie burst into the senior elite spotlight by coming in fourth in the all around and first on bars at U.S. Classic. At the U.S.
National Championships, she continued her success by placing sixth in the all around and first on bars. Katie earned a spot on the
2001 U.S. world championship team and helped the team earn a bronze medal, the first medal since 1995. She then went on to earn a
bronze medal on bars, ending the individual medal drought for the U.S.
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Katie Heenan, 2004 US Nationals
Photograph copyright © Heather Maynez, www.gymnpics.com. All rights reserved. |
A string of injuries hampered her in 2002 and 2003. She did manage to compete in the 2003 nationals, coming in 7th place, however
injuries kept her out of the international scene.
In 2004, she became the American Classic Champion, won gold with her team and on bars at the Pacific Alliance Championships,
and competed at the 2004 Olympic Trials. An injury during the trials prevented her from finishing but she was asked to become the
athlete representative at the final Olympic selection camp.
Katie received a full scholarship with the University of Georgia Gym Dogs. During her freshman year she stood out as a great all-arounder
and won the NCAA national championship with her team.
In 2007, Katie was named SEC Gymnast of The Year and made All-SEC first team. Heenan also tied for first in the all-around with follow
Gym Dog Courtney Kupets at the SEC Championship. Heenan also won the 2005 SEC Championship
all-around title as a freshman, making her the second Georgia gymnast with two SEC all-around titles. Entering into 2007 regional
competition, Katie is tied with Ashleigh Clare-Kearney of LSU for the top all-around ranking in the nation.
For more information, visit her
profile page on the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique website.
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