Kristen Maloney

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kristen Ann Maloney (born March 10, 1981, Hackettstown, New Jersey) is an American gymnast who competed in the 2000 Olympics.

Maloney trained at the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was a consistent member of the U.S. national gymnastics team from 1993 to 2000. She competed in a variety of minor international competitions as a junior elite and, as a senior, qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials.

Although Maloney only finished fourteenth at the Trials and received little media attention in the shadow of the "Magnificent Seven", she became one of the most prominent American gymnasts until the 2000 Olympics. She was named to both the 1997 and 1999 World Championships teams, earned a gold medal on the balance beam at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York, and won the all-around at the 1998 Pacific Alliance Championships. She was the U.S. National Champion for 1998 and 1999. Maloney ended her elite career at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where she placed fourth with the American team and nineteenth in the individual all-around.

After the Olympics, Maloney attended UCLA on a full athletic scholarship and competed in NCAA gymnastics with the Bruins. There she earned All-American honors and scored perfect 10.0s at several meets, functioning as a strong team leader. In her final college competition, the NCAA Championships, Maloney placed second in the all-around behind teammate Tasha Schwikert, won gold on vault and floor, and displayed Olympic-level technique by successfully completing a double-twisting Yurchenko vault and a full twisting double layout on FX.

Maloney was plagued by persistent injuries throughout her elite and collegiate careers. A nagging stress fracture led to placement of a titanium rod in her leg (whence her name "K-Rod" among some fans). In the wake of one wave of extremely serious injury and illness, Maloney missed two full years of competition with the Bruins; her subsequent return to full form earned her UCLA's C.H.A.M.P.S. Inspirational Award.

Maloney graduated from UCLA in 2005 and is currently working as a gymnastics coach in California. One of her gymnasts is Shavahn Church, who is a member of the British national team.

Maloney has a skill named after her in the Code of Points; a toe-on Shaposhnikova transition on the uneven bars.