Joanna Sampson

Joanna Sampson (born December 4, 1992) is a former American artistic gymnast. She competed for the Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team. Sampson was the first gymnast in Michigan program history to score a perfect 10.0 on floor exercise in any postseason competition in 2014.

Joanna Sampson
Country represented United States
Born (1992-12-04) December 4, 1992 (age 31)
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelNCAA (2011–2014)
GymRicochets Gymnastics Club
College teamMichigan Wolverines
Former coach(es)Bev Plocki
Medal record
Representing Michigan Wolverines
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place2013 Los AngelesFloor exercise
Silver medal – second place2014 BirminghamFloor exercise
Bronze medal – third place2013 Los AngelesAll-around

Personal life

Sampson was born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, to Robert and Donna Sampson. She attended Upper Moreland High School and graduated in 2010.[1][2]

Gymnastics

Early career

Sampson trained at Ricochets Gymnastics Club in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. She is a two-time national champion (uneven bars in 2008 and all-around in 2010) and a five-time regional and state champion. In 2008 she was national uneven bars champion and runner-up in the all-around, and state vault and floor champion. In 2010, she was the national all-around champion and runner-up on uneven bars, taking third on beam and floor, and the state all-around, vault and bars champion. She was also a Junior Olympic National Team member and two-time Region 7 All-Star Team member.[1]

NCAA career

Sampson competed for the Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics. As a freshman in 2011, at the Big Ten Championships, she scored a then career-best 9.925 on floor to take runner-up in the event.[3] She won her first collegiate title on vault with a score of 9.900 at the Ann Arbor Regional of the 2011 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship. She became Michigan's first gymnast to win the regional vault title since 2002.[4]

As a sophomore in 2012, at the 2012 Big Ten Championships, she scored 9.925 on vault to take runner-up in the event, and was named to the All-Big Ten Championships Team. She won the vault title for the second consecutive year with a score of 9.925 at the Auburn Regional of the 2012 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship.[5]

As a junior in 2013, she took first place in the all-around in eight of the team's 14 meets while winning or sharing 23 individual-event titles. Her scoring average in the all-around (39.434) was the third-highest for a single season in program history. She won the national championship on floor exercise with a score of 9.9375 at the 2013 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship.[6] She became the fourth gymnast in program history to win a national championship and the first gymnast in program history to win a national championship on floor exercise.[7][8] Following an outstanding season she was named a three-time NCAA All-American, NCAA Northeast Region Gymnast of the Year, University of Michigan's Female Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Women's Gymnast of the Year.[9][10][11]

As a senior in 2014, at the Big Ten Championships, she won the championship on uneven bars, and tied for first on floor exercise. She became the first women's gymnast in Big Ten Championships history to record a perfect 10.0 on floor exercise, and the first Michigan gymnast since Kylee Botterman in 2011 to post a perfect 10.0 on any event.[12] She was the national runner-up on floor exercise at the 2014 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship.[13] Following an outstanding season, she was named a three-time NCAA All-American, NCAA Northeast Region Gymnast of the Year, University of Michigan's Female Athlete of the Year, and an AAI Award finalist.[14][15][16]

Career perfect 10.0

SeasonDateEventMeet
2014March 22, 2014Floor ExerciseBig Ten Championships

Competitive history

NCAA

YearEventTeamAAVTUBBBFX
2011Big Ten Championships
NCAA Championships6
2012Big Ten Championships420 472833
NCAA Championships30
2013Big Ten Championships 6148
NCAA Championships7 14
2014Big Ten Championships 6
NCAA Championships10511

References