Samantha Sheehan

Samantha Sheehan
Sheehan competing at the 2002 World Championships
Personal information
Born (1986-05-20) May 20, 1986
Gymnastics career
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
Country represented
United States United States
College team
Georgia GymDogs
ClubCincinnati Gymnastics Academy
Head coach
Mary Lee Tracy
Medal record
Women's artistic gymnastics
Representing  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2002 DebrecenFloor exercise
Representing University of Georgia
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place2005 AuburnTeam

Samantha Sheehan (born May 20, 1986) is an American former artistic gymnast. She won the bronze medal on floor exercise at the 2002 World Championships. Following her elite career, she competed collegiately for the Georgia GymDogs and won a team title at the 2005 NCAA Championships.

Early life

Sheehan grew up in Villa Hills, Kentucky, with her twin brother and older sister.[1] She began gymnastics when she was three years old at the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.[2]

Gymnastics career

Sheehan began competing at the international elite level in 2001.[2] She placed 19th in the junior all-around at the 2001 U.S. Classic and placed eighth on the uneven bars.[1] She then finished 22nd in the junior all-around at the 2001 U.S. Championships.[3]

Sheehan became age-eligible for the senior elite level in 2002. At the 2002 U.S. Classic, she finished fifth in the all-around and had the highest score on the floor exercise.[1] She then finished 11th in the all-around at the 2002 U.S. Championships.[4] She was selected to compete at the 2002 World Championships, which would also be her international debut.[5] She qualified for the floor exercise final in first place with a score of 9.450 after winning a tiebreaker over Daniele Hypólito.[6] In the final, she won the bronze medal with a score of 9.325, behind Elena Gómez and Verona van de Leur.[7]

Sheehan won the all-around at a 2003 friendly meet against Belgium and helped the United States win the team competition.[1] She then placed 12th in the all-around at the 2003 U.S. Classic.[8] In November 2003, she signed a National Letter of Intent with the Georgia GymDogs.[9]

Sheehan competed at the 2004 Olympic Test Event in Athens and won a silver medal on the uneven bars, behind Li Ya.[10] She injured her rotator cuff in May 2004 and withdrew from the 2004 U.S. Championships.[11] Her petition to compete at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials was accepted. She competed on the vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise at the Olympic Trials.[12] She was not invited to the Olympic Selection Camp.[13]

Sheehan began competing for the Georgia GymDogs in 2005.[14] She did not compete regularly as she was going through a growth spurt and injuries.[15] She was part of the team that won the 2005 NCAA Championships.[16] Starting in 2006, the team began awarding the Sam Sheehan Spirit Award.[2][17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Samantha Sheehan". USA Gymnastics. March 24, 2004. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Dowis, Kim (July 13, 2016). "Region 5 Elites who chased Olympic Glory: Samantha Sheehan, CGA". Region 5 Insider. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2001 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Junior Women AA Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. August 11, 2001. p. 12. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ "2002 USA Gymnastics Championships Sr International AA" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. August 10, 2002. p. 6. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ "USA Gymnastics Names 2002 Women's World Championships Team". USA Gymnastics. October 27, 2002. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ "American Women Win in Gymnastics". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. November 21, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Postell Triumphs On Balance Beam". The New York Times. The Associated Press. November 25, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ "2003 U.S. Classic Sr. Women's AA". Gymn Forum. February 8, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Georgia Gym Dogs Ink Four in Early Signing Period". Georgia Bulldogs. November 13, 2003. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ "2004 Pre-Olympic Test Event Women's EF". Gymn Forum. March 25, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Sheehan Withdraws From Visa U.S. Championships". USA Gymnastics. June 4, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2004 Olympic Trials Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Kupets, McCool Secure Spots On U.S. Olympic Team". USA Gymnastics. June 27, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ Smith, Austin (January 11, 2005). "Freshman class fuels Gym Dogs". The Red & Black. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Suzanne Answers Your Questions". Georgia Bulldogs. February 4, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Gymnastics NCAA Championships" (PDF). Georgia Bulldogs. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Georgia Gymnastics Team History" (PDF). Georgia Bulldogs. p. 6. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
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