Amanda Borden
Encyclopedia
Amanda Kathleen Borden is a retired American gymnast
, who was one of the members of the gold medalist United States team in the 1996 Summer Olympics
, the Magnificent 7
. Borden was the team captain of the Magnificent Seven, with all six other members submitting her name in the vote, including the more experienced Shannon Miller. Her vivacious personality and encouraging presence were deemed important leadership qualities that would take the team far.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
and graduated from Finneytown High School
, Borden trained under coach Mary Lee Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. She took up gymnastics in 1984, and spent six years on the US women's national team (1990, 1992–97), competing in the 1993 World Championships, and making the event finals on uneven bars in the 1994 World Championships before leading the United States to gold in the 1996 Olympics. She also originated an original element, a twisting straddle pike jump on the balance beam, which is named after her in the Code of Points
.
After her victory as part of the team nicknamed the "magnificent seven", Borden appeared in numerous national tours and television appearances. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University
with a degree in early childhood education, though she was unable to compete under NCAA rules, having gained professional athlete status from promotional work.
In May 2006, Borden married Brad Cochran, and the couple currently owns the Gold Medal Gym in Tempe, Arizona. 2000 Olympic team member Jamie Dantzscher
is one of the coaches at Borden's gym. At age 30, she gave birth to her first child - a daughter, Kennedy Faith, who arrived at 5:45 pm on July 29, 2007.
Borden opened her Gold Medal Gym in Tempe, Arizona
in May 2004, where she coaches as well. She also serves as a commentator on CBS Sports
, Fox Sports
, Turner Broadcasting, and ESPN
, for gymnastics and cheerleading
events. She also goes to IGC (International Gymnastics Camp) every summer to talk about her gymnastics experiences.
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
, who was one of the members of the gold medalist United States team in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, the Magnificent 7
Magnificent Seven (Gymnastics)
The Magnificent Seven is the name given to the 1996 United States Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team that won the first ever Gold Medal for the United States in the Women's Team Competition at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics...
. Borden was the team captain of the Magnificent Seven, with all six other members submitting her name in the vote, including the more experienced Shannon Miller. Her vivacious personality and encouraging presence were deemed important leadership qualities that would take the team far.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and graduated from Finneytown High School
Finneytown High School
Finneytown High School is a public high school in Springfield Township . The school is part of the Finneytown Local School District, whose mascot is the Wildcat.-Academics:...
, Borden trained under coach Mary Lee Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. She took up gymnastics in 1984, and spent six years on the US women's national team (1990, 1992–97), competing in the 1993 World Championships, and making the event finals on uneven bars in the 1994 World Championships before leading the United States to gold in the 1996 Olympics. She also originated an original element, a twisting straddle pike jump on the balance beam, which is named after her in the Code of Points
Code of Points (artistic gymnastics)
A Code of Points is a rulebook that defines the scoring system for each level of competition in gymnastics. There is no unified, international code of points; every oversight organization—such as FIG , NCAA Gymnastics, and most national gymnastics federations—designs and employs its own unique Code...
.
After her victory as part of the team nicknamed the "magnificent seven", Borden appeared in numerous national tours and television appearances. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
with a degree in early childhood education, though she was unable to compete under NCAA rules, having gained professional athlete status from promotional work.
In May 2006, Borden married Brad Cochran, and the couple currently owns the Gold Medal Gym in Tempe, Arizona. 2000 Olympic team member Jamie Dantzscher
Jamie Dantzscher
Jamie Annette Dantzscher is a retired American gymnast. She was a member of the bronze medal winning US team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney...
is one of the coaches at Borden's gym. At age 30, she gave birth to her first child - a daughter, Kennedy Faith, who arrived at 5:45 pm on July 29, 2007.
Borden opened her Gold Medal Gym in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
in May 2004, where she coaches as well. She also serves as a commentator on CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
, Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
, Turner Broadcasting, and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, for gymnastics and cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
events. She also goes to IGC (International Gymnastics Camp) every summer to talk about her gymnastics experiences.
External links
- USA Gymnastics bio
- Amanda Borden's Gold Medal Gym
- List of competitive results at Gymn Forum
- StandPoint Management Group http://www.standpointmanagementgroup.com
- National Collegiate Speakers Bureau http://www.collegiate-speakers.com