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UTAH: Should play a much bigger role as a sophomore after participating in her first preseason training period at the U. ... late start a year ago - she joined the team in January - impacted her ability to make the lineup on any event other than bars ... hopes to show off some unique flexibility moves on the beam this year ... 2004 Canadian Olympian initially planned to defer enrollment at Utah until after the 2008 Olympics.
2008-Joined the Utes at the semester break and broke into the bar lineup on Feb. 16 at Washington ... competed on bars in the last 10 meets, including both nights of NCAA Championships' competition ... scored a 9.775 on bars during the NCAA team preliminaries ... scored a season-high 9.875 on bars against both Oregon State and Brigham Young... one victory ... vaulted in meet at UCLA, scoring a 9.725 ... hit 11-11 routines ... NACGC Scholastic All-American ... also made the Dean's List and the Athletics Director's Honor Roll.
PRIOR TO UTAH: As a 16-year-old, Mackie competed for Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece ... at the 2007 Canadian National Championships, she placed fifth all-around and third on bars ... 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 (he did not compete in either due to injury and his acceptance into medical school) ... mother was a National Team gymnast ... brother Owen and sister Christie also competed in gymnastics, and 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.
Mackie's Career Highs
Vault 9.725 vs. UCLA, Feb. 24, 2008 Bars 9.875 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 7, 2008 9.875 vs. Brigham young, Mar. 28, 2008
Catching Up with Gael
Age Started Gymnastics: Three
This Summer I: Coached gymnastics
These Words Describe Me: Ambitious, tough, hard working
You may not know: I was the youngest Canadian athlete at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Favorite Non U of U Sports Team: Vancouver Canucks
Favorite Activities: Reading, hiking, watching movies
Favorite Movie Star: Will Ferrell
Favorite Subject in School: History
Favorite Food: Pineapple
Favorite Gymnast: Nastia Liukin
