Katie Heenan
Encyclopedia
Katherine "Katie" Elaine Heenan, (born November 26, 1985 in Indianapolis
, Indiana
,), is a seven time national gymnast
, and four time team NCAA champion, with the Georgia Gym Dogs
.
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.
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.
, and throughout her time at the university, stood out as a great all arounder.
In 2007, Katie was named Southeastern Conference
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. In 2008, Katie received the Honda Award as the nation's top collegiate gymnast.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
,), is a seven time national gymnast
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
, and four time team NCAA champion, with the Georgia Gym Dogs
Georgia Gym Dogs
The Georgia Gym Dogs women's gymnastics team represents the University of Georgia and competes in the Southeastern Conference . The Gym Dogs compete in Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia and compete in NCAA Division I...
.
Early life
Katie began gymnasticsGymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
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
U.S. National Championships
U.S. National Championships may refer to:* United States national amateur boxing championships* United States Figure Skating Championships* U.S. National Championships , before 1968, the tennis tournament now called the U.S. Open...
, 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.
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.
NCAA career
Katie received a full scholarship with the Georgia Gym DogsGeorgia Gym Dogs
The Georgia Gym Dogs women's gymnastics team represents the University of Georgia and competes in the Southeastern Conference . The Gym Dogs compete in Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia and compete in NCAA Division I...
, and throughout her time at the university, stood out as a great all arounder.
In 2007, Katie was named Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
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
Courtney Kupets
Courtney Anne Kupets is an American gymnast. She is best known for her 2003 and 2004 all-around national championships ; her membership on the 2002 and 2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and 2004 Olympic teams; and her individual bronze medal on the uneven bars at the 2004...
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. In 2008, Katie received the Honda Award as the nation's top collegiate gymnast.