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UTAH: 2004 Canadian Olympian joined Utes after Christmas break ... initially planned to defer enrolling in school until after the 2008 Olympics, but changed her mind when a stress fracture in her leg prevented her from competing in the 2008 Canadian World Championships Trials and Canada failed to qualify a team ... despite missing out on preseason training, she could make an impact almost immediately.
CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: As a 16-year-old, Mackie competed for Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece ... fifth all-around and third on bars at the 2007 Canadian National Championships ... made the World Championships team in 2006 ... won the all-around, vault, bars and beam at the 2007 Friendship Classic ... finished seventh in the all-around to lead Canada to a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games ... 2003 Senior National all-around champion ... fourth-place all-around showing and a bronze medal on the beam at the 2002 WOGA Classic ... seventh in the all-around (the best finish by a Canadian) and second on the beam at the 2002 Pacific Alliance meet ... 2002 Canadian Junior National all-around, vault and floor champion placed second on bars ... 2001 Canadian Junior National vault champion ... won the uneven bars at the 2002 Elite Canada Championships and the balance beam in 2003 ... trained for Vladimir and Svetlana Lashin at Omega Gymnastics Academy ... graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary where she made the honor roll.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Bill and Susan Mackie ... both parents are doctors and former gymnasts ... father graduated from Michigan ... father made the 1968 and 1972 Canadian Olympic teams, although injuries forced him to withdraw from both competitions ... mother was a National Team gymnast ... brother Owen and sister Christie also competed in gymnastics, while sister Charlotte is still competing ... brother also competed in aerial skiing ... has not yet chosen a major ... full name is Gael Briane Mackie ... born Dec. 16, 1988.
Utah Coach Greg Marsden on Mackie
"While we are sorry that things didn't work out exactly as Gael had planned, we are thrilled that she is joining our team nearly a year before we thought possible.
"Gael has the skills on every event to compete with anyone and has a performance quality that makes her a joy to watch."
Outside The Gym
Miles from home: 804
Nickname: Gmac
Favorite skill to perform: Double layout off bars
Favorite non U of U sports team: Vancouver Canucks
I've been described as: Feisty, fun, ambitious
Favorite foods: Pineapple, sushi
Favorite musicians: Justin Timberlake, The Beatles
Favorite subject in school: History
Favorite TV show: America's Next Top Model
Favorite gymnasts: Ashley Postell, Nastia Liukin
