July 21, 2001

Former UCLA gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj made a successful return to elite gymnastics, tying for second place on vault at the U.S. Classic in Pomona, CA.

Bhardwaj, the 2001 Collegiate Gymnast of the Year and a member of the U.S. national team from 1992-1997, scored a 9.35 on vault for her laid-out Yurchenko one-and-a-half. Her score was bested only by Natalie Foley's 9.4. Bhardwaj tied for second with 2000 Olympian Tasha Schwikert and national team member Rachel Tidd.

Bhardwaj also competed on the uneven bars and balance beam, where she unveiled an arsenal of new skills, including a Shaposhnikova on bars and a side somersault on beam. She placed 20th on bars with a 7.4 and 26th on beam with a 7.9.

Schwikert won the competition with an all-around score of 36.9. The Top 20 competitors at the Classic earned an automatic berth to the U.S. Championships, scheduled for Aug. 8-11 in Philadelphia, PA. Bhardwaj, who was unable to compete on floor due to an ankle injury, will petition for a berth at the U.S. Championships.