Alabama Gymnast Shallon Olsen Earns Silver on Vault at the World Championships
11/2/2018 6:10:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide freshman posted a score of 14.516 to take the silver medal, with Team USA’s Simone Biles winning gold and Mexico’s Alexa Moreno taking the bronze
DOHA, QATAR – Alabama gymnast Shallon Olsen earned a silver medal in the vault at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Friday, becoming the first Canadian woman to earn a vault medal at Worlds.
"This is absolutely insane," Olsen said. "I did not think I was going to come second behind Simone Biles, because she's literally amazing. I'm just really happy and ecstatic right now."
The Crimson Tide freshman posted a score of 14.516 to take the silver medal, with Team USA's Simone Biles winning gold and Mexico's Alexa Moreno taking the bronze. Friday marked the third time in a row that Olsen posted the second-highest vault score at these World Championships after the qualifying round and the team finals.
"What an amazing week this has been for Shallon," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "To win a medal at the World Championships and share the podium with Simone Biles is a tremendous way to cap things off in Doha. We're so proud of her and everything she accomplished during all three days of competition."
Olsen is the second Alabama gymnast to earn a medal on the vault at the World Championships. The Tide's Kayla Williams was the gold medalist on vault for the United States at the 2009 Worlds.
In addition to her individual efforts, Olsen helped lead Team Canada to a historic fourth-place finish at the World Championships.
The gold medalist on vault at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Olsen finished eighth on the vault at the Rio Olympics. She also finished seventh on the vault and 16th on the floor exercise at the 2017 World Championships.
Olsen and her Crimson Tide teammates open the 2019 season on January 4 in a quad meet with SEMO, Northern Illinois and Temple. Season tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum.
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
