Alexandra Claire McMurtry (born December 8, 1996) is an American former artistic gymnast. She is the 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup champion and the 2017 NCAA Champion. She competed in NCAA gymnastics for the Florida Gators and was the 10th person in NCAA history to record a Gym Slam.

Alex McMurtry
Full nameAlexandra Claire McMurtry
Born (1996-12-08) December 8, 1996 (age 28)[1]
Brighton, Michigan, U.S.
HometownMidlothian, Virginia, U.S.
Height5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Gymnastics career
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
Regions represented7
College teamFlorida Gators (2015–18)
LevelLevel 10
ClubRichmond Olympiad Gymnastics
Former coach(es)Boris and Larissa Choutkin
RetiredMay 30, 2018
Medal record
Representing Richmond Olympiad
Nastia Liukin Cup
Gold medal – first place 2013 Worcester All-Around
Silver medal – second place 2012 New York All-Around
Representing Florida Gators
NCAA Gymnastics Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Fort Worth Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 St. Louis All-Around
Gold medal – first place 2017 St. Louis Uneven Bars
Gold medal – first place 2018 St. Louis Vault
Silver medal – second place 2017 St. Louis Vault
Bronze medal – third place 2017 St. Louis Team
Bronze medal – third place 2017 St. Louis Balance Beam
Bronze medal – third place 2017 St. Louis Floor Exercise
Bronze medal – third place 2018 St. Louis Team
Bronze medal – third place 2018 St. Louis Uneven Bars

Early life and education

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McMurtry was born in Commerce Township, Michigan, to David and Christine McMurtry and has two siblings.[2] She graduated from James River High School in 2014 and started up at the University of Florida that fall and was part of their gymnastics team. McMurtry graduated summa cum laude in August 2018 with degree in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology–Exercise Physiology.[3]

Gymnastics career

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Junior Olympic Level 10

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2011 – 2012

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McMurtry competed at the 2011 Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships in Long Beach, California. She won the all-around title with 38.575 points, ahead of silver medalist Maggie Nichols. She also tied for the highest score on vault with a 9.950 and floor with a score of 9.650.[4]

In 2012 McMurtry competed at the Atlanta Crown Invitational where she placed first in the all-around and qualifier for the Nastia Liukin Cup.[5] There she placed second behind Charity Jones.[6] At the 2012 Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships, McMurtry once again placed first.[7]

2013 – 2014

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In early 2013, McMurtry verbally committed to attend the University of Florida on a gymnastics scholarship.[8] In March 2013 McMurtry once again competed at the Nastia Liukin Cup; this time she finished in first place.[9] At the 2013 Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships she finished in second place behind future Florida Gator teammate Alicia Boren.[10] At the 2014 Women's Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships, McMurtry finished in eighth place after a disappointing uneven bars performance. She finished first on vault.[11]

NCAA

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2014–2015

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As a freshman in 2015, McMurtry regularly contributed to the Florida gymnastics team on vault, bars and beam during the regular season, and also saw action on floor. She was ranked #1 in the nation on vault at the end of the regular season on March 16, 2015.[12]

2015–2016

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McMurtry made her floor exercise debut in a match against LSU. She received two perfect 10s on uneven bars.[13]

2016–2017

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McMurtry won the all-around at both the Southeastern Conference Championships and at the 2017 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship. Additionally she won the Honda Sports Award[14][15] and the NCAA Elite 90 Award, an award given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at each of the 90 NCAA championships sites.

2017–2018

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On January 26, McMurtry earned a perfect 10 on balance beam, thus completing a Gym Slam – earning a perfect 10 on each apparatus. She is the second Florida Gator to achieve this feat after Bridget Sloan.[16] Later in the season McMurtry won the gold on vault at both the Southeastern Conference Championships and at the 2018 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship. She was also awarded the NCAA's Today's Top 10 Award.[17]

Career perfect 10.0

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Season Date Event Meet
2015 Jan 16, 2015 Vault Florida vs Auburn
2016 Jan 29, 2016 Uneven Bars Florida vs Alabama
Mar 11, 2016 Florida vs North Carolina
2017 Feb 10, 2017 Florida vs Georgia
Feb 24, 2017 Floor Exercise Florida vs Missouri
Mar 5, 2017 Vault Florida @ LSU
Apr 15, 2017 Uneven Bars Super Six
2018 Jan 26, 2018 Vault Florida vs Oklahoma
Balance Beam

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Level 10
2011 J.O. National Championships     4 4  
2012 Atlanta Crown Invitational          
Nastia Liukin Cup  
J.O. National Championships          
Christmas on the Chesapeake          
2013 Nastia Liukin Cup  
J.O. National Championships     12 6  
2014 J.O. National Championships 8   44 6 7
NCAA
2015 SEC Championships    
NCAA Championships   8
2016 SEC Championships     11     7
NCAA Championships 4 6
2017 SEC Championships         5  
NCAA Championships            
2018 SEC Championships   14     7
NCAA Championships   5    

[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ "The Official Website of Alex McMurtry". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  2. ^ "Alex McMurtry". USA Gymnastics.
  3. ^ "2017 Gymnastics Roster: Alex McMurtry". University of Florida.
  4. ^ "Four champions crowned on first day of 2011 U.S. Women's Junior Olympic National Championships". USA Gymnastics. May 14, 2011.
  5. ^ "Liukin Qualifier Results" (PDF). Gymnastics Results. January 22, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "2012 Nastia Liukin Cup Meet Results Women" (PDF). Nastia Liukin Cup. March 2, 2012.
  7. ^ "Junior Olympic National Championships Wraps Up with Four More Champions". USA Gymnastics. May 12, 2012.
  8. ^ "Top Recruit Alex McMurtry Makes Collegiate Decision". FloGymnastics. February 18, 2013.
  9. ^ "2013 Nastia Liukin Cup Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. March 1, 2013.
  10. ^ "Junior Olympic National Championships Wraps Up with Four More Champions". USA Gymnastics. May 11, 2013.
  11. ^ "2014 Level 10 JO Nationals Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. May 9, 2014.
  12. ^ "Women's Gymnastics National Rankings for: Vault". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  13. ^ "Q&A with Florida gymnast Alex McMurtry". Excelle Sports. March 31, 2016. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  14. ^ "Florida's Alex McMurtry wins 2017 Honda Award". SEC Sports. April 26, 2017.
  15. ^ "Florida's McMurtry Named the Honda Sport Award Winner for Gymnastics". CWSA. 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  16. ^ "McMurtry's 'Gym Slam' helps Florida edge No. 1 Oklahoma by narrow margin". National Collegiate Athletic Association. January 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "McMurtry receives one of NCAA's highest individual honors". Gator Sports. January 23, 2019.
  18. ^ "The Gymnastics ScoreKeeper Meet Results".
  19. ^ "The Gymnastics ScoreKeeper Meet Results".
Awards
Preceded by Honda Sports Award
(gymnastics)

2017
Succeeded by