UCLA Alumna Mohini Bhardwaj to be Inducted into USAG Hall of Fame
December 19, 2014 | Gymnastics
Bhardwaj is the fourth UCLA woman to be inducted into the USAG Hall of fame, joining 2013 team honoree Samantha Peszek, 2011 individual honoree Kristen Maloney and 2012 individual/2008 team honoree Tasha Schwikert.
A rare success story both pre- and post-college, Bhardwaj was a member of the 1997 World Championship team before competing at UCLA from 1998-2001. As a Bruin, she led the team to back-to-back NCAA titles (2000 and 2001), won a pair of NCAA individual titles (2000 uneven bars and 2001 floor exercise) and 11 All-America honors and won both the AAI Award and the Honda Award during her senior year. She owns the second-highest all-around score in NCAA history, recording a 39.975 in 2001 after scoring a 9.975 on vault and then three consecutive perfect 10s on bars, beam and floor. Following her collegiate career, she returned to the elite scene, winning the U.S. national title on vault and leading the U.S. to a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2001 before going onto Olympic success in 2004.
Bhardwaj has been coaching gymnastics for 15 years and owns, operates and serves as club director of Oregon Olympic Athletics.
Joining Bhardwaj in the Class of 2015 are acro pair Kristin Allen/Michael Rodrigues, rhythmic gymnast Jessica Howard, gymnast Terin Humphrey, trampoline and tumbler Jennifer Sans, men's gymnastics coach Mark Williams and lifetime achievement honorees Doug Hills and David Moskovitz. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 14, during the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships and USA Gymnastics National Congress & Trade Show in Indianapolis.
UCLA gymnasts/coaches in the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame:
Mohini Bhardwaj – Class of 2015
2007 U.S. Women's World Championship Team (incl. Samantha Peszek) - Class of 2013
Tasha Schwikert - Class of 2012
Kristen Maloney - Class of 2011
Stephen McCain - Class of 2009
2003 U.S. Women's World Championship Team (incl. Tasha Schwikert) - Class of 2008
Chainey Umphrey - Class of 2005
Chris Waller - Class of 2003
Scott Keswick - Class of 2003
Mitch Gaylord - Class of 1998
Tim Daggett - Class of 1998
Peter Vidmar - Class of 1997
Larry Banner - Class of 1993
Don Perry - Class of 1989
Glenn Berry - Class of 1988
Makoto Sakamoto* - Class of 1986
Art Shurlock* - Class of 1985
1984 Men's Olympic Team (incl. Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord, Peter Vidmar) - Class of 1984
Dallas Bixler - Class of 1960
Ray Bass - Class of 1959
*Coached at UCLA
Players Mentioned
