Wikipedia

Colt Walker (gymnast)

Colt Barrett Walker (born June 25, 2001) is an American artistic gymnast. He is a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and competes in collegiate gymnastics for the Stanford Cardinal. He was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 2022 Pan American Championships and was the alternate for the bronze medal-winning team at the 2023 World Championships. He is the 2019 junior Winter Cup and National Champion.

Colt Walker
Walker at the 2021 National Championships
Personal information
Full nameColt Barrett Walker
Country representedUnited States
Born (2001-06-25) June 25, 2001 (age 23)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
HometownCedar Park, Texas, U.S.
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight145 lb (66 kg)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Years on national team2022–present
GymAcroTex Gymnastics
College teamStanford Cardinal
Head coach(es)Thom Glielmi
Assistant coach(es)Mark Freeman
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's artistic gymnastics
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Championships 0 0 1
Pan American Games 1 1 0
Pan American Championships 1 1 0
Total 2 2 1
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Antwerp Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2023 Santiago Team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Santiago Parallel bars
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rio de Janeiro Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Rio de Janeiro Parallel bars
AwardsNissen-Emery Award (2024)

Early life and education

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Walker was born in Austin, Texas, to Pam and Keith Walker. He has one sibling. He attended Chaparral Star Academy, graduating in 2020.[1] He later enrolled at Stanford University to pursue gymnastics.

Gymnastics career

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2017–18

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Walker competed at the RD761 International Junior Team Cup where he finished fourth on vault and contributed to the USA's third-place finish.[2] He competed at the 2017 National Championships in the 15-16 age division; he placed fifth in the all-around and fourth on floor exercise.[3]

In August 2018, Walker competed at the U.S. National Championships in the junior 15-16 division. He placed ninth in the all-around, winning silver on floor exercise and vault and bronze on rings.[4]

2019

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Walker competed at the RD761 International Junior Team Cup where he helped the USA win silver.[5] Individually he won silver in the all-around behind Takeru Kitazono and won medals on five of the six apparatuses.[6] Walker next competed at the 2019 Winter Cup where he placed first in the all-around and on vault and third on floor exercise and rings.[7]

In August, Walker competed at the U.S. National Championships in the 17-18 age division. He finished first in the all-around, on vault, and on parallel bars and second on rings and horizontal bar.[8]

2020–21

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Walker became age-eligible for senior-level competition and competed at the 2020 Winter Cup. He finished 19th in the all-around.[9] Walker did not compete for the rest of the year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Walker began competing for the Stanford Cardinal men's gymnastics team during the 2020–21 season. He competed at the 2021 NCAA Championships where he helped Stanford defend their team title.[10] At the 2021 U.S. National Championships Walker placed 12th in the all-around but won bronze on the parallel bars behind Yul Moldauer and Shane Wiskus.[11][12]

2022

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Walker placed fifth in the all-around and third on vault at the 2022 Winter Cup.[13] He was selected to compete at the DTB Pokal Mixed Cup in Stuttgart[14] where he competed on floor exercise and vault during the preliminary round, helping the USA qualify into the championship round. The USA clinched first place in this round with his contribution on the parallel bars.[15] At the NCAA Championship Walker helped Stanford defend their national title. Additionally he placed second on parallel bars behind teammate Curran Phillips.[16]

In June Walker was selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Championships alongside Riley Loos, Brody Malone, Yul Moldauer, and Shane Wiskus.[17] On the first day of competition Walker competed on floor exercise, pommel horse, vault, and parallel bars to help qualify the United States in first place to the team final. Individually he won silver on parallel bars behind Moldauer and recorded the fourth-highest floor exercise score and fifth-highest pommel horse score.[18] During the team final Walker competed on floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars to help the USA win gold ahead of the reigning team champion Brazil.[19]

In late July Walker competed at the U.S. Classic where he placed second in the all-around behind Stanford teammate Malone with a score of 85.264 (83.750 without bonus). Additionally, he recorded the highest parallel bars score and second-highest vault score.[20] In August Walker competed at the U.S. National Championships where he finished sixth in all-around but recorded the second highest score when removing domestic bonuses. Additionally, he finished second on parallel bars and third on vault.[21]

In October Walker was named to the team to compete at the 2022 World Championships alongside Asher Hong, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik, and Donnell Whittenburg.[22] During qualifications Walker finished fourteenth on parallel bars but did not qualify for the event final. During the team final Walker contributed scores on vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar towards the USA's fifth-place finish.[23]

2023

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Walker spent the beginning of 2023 recovering from a bulging disk in his back.[24] He made his debut at the MPSF Championships where he only competed on pommel horse. He scored a 13.900, the fourth-highest score on the apparatus, and helped Stanford win the team title.[25] In April Walker competed at the NCAA Championship, once again only competing on pommel horse. He helped Stanford win their fourth consecutive team title.[26] In August Walker competed at the Core Hydration Classic where he competed the all-around for the first time this season. He placed eighth overall.[27]

Walker next competed at the Xfinity National Championships where he placed fourth in the all-around but received the highest two-day all-around score when removing domestic bonuses.[28] The following day he was named as the alternate for the World Championships team and was named to the team to compete at the Pan American Games taking place in late October alongside Donnell Whittenburg, Shane Wiskus (later replaced by Curran Phillips), Stephen Nedoroscik, and Cameron Bock.[29]

At the World Championships Walker was on the competition floor supporting the team during team finals as they won the bronze medal, the USA's first team medal in nine years. As the alternate Walker was also awarded the medal.[30]

At the Pan American Games Walker helped the United States win team gold. Individually he qualified for the rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bar final.[31] On the first day of apparatus finals Walker finished fourth on rings.[32] On the final day of competition he won silver on parallel bars behind compatriot Phillips and placed fifth on horizontal bar.[33]

2024

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Walker competed at the MPSF Championships where he helped Stanford place first as a team. Individually he won silver in the all-around and on parallel bars behind teammate Khoi Young. Before the NCAA Championships Walker was awarded the Nissen-Emery Award, the highest honor in men's collegiate gymnastics.[34] At the Championships Walker contributed scores on all apparatuses except pommel horse and helped Stanford win their fifth consecutive team title.[35]

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA FX PH SR VT PB HB
Junior
2017 RD761 International Junior Team Cup   4
U.S. National Championships (15-16) 5 4 7   12 9 13
2018 University of Calgary International Cup   4      
Elite Team Cup  
U.S. National Championships (15-16) 9   17     11 8
2019 RD761 International Junior Team Cup              
Winter Cup   6       6 10
Elite Team Cup  
Berlin International Junior Team Cup   9  
U.S. National Championships (17-18)   4 5        
Senior
2020 Winter Cup 19 19 14 13 4 7 13
2021 NCAA Championships  
U.S. National Championships 12 23 24 11 13   15
2022 Winter Cup 5 14 12 11   9 8
DTB Pokal Mixed Cup  
MPSF Championships       8
NCAA Championships   11  
Pan American Championships   5  
U.S. Classic   5 8 4     20
U.S. National Championships 6 4 24 6     7
World Championships 5
2023 MPSF Championships   4
NCAA Championships   11
U.S. Classic 8 22 6 7 58 35 38
U.S. National Championships 4 14 6 6 4 12
World Championships  [a]
Pan American Games   4   5
2024 MPSF Championships     4 11 5 12   15
NCAA Championships   6
U.S. National Championships 9 11 9 12   15
Olympic Trials 10 12 7 10   17
  1. ^ Walker was the Team USA alternate

References

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  1. ^ "Colt Walker USAG profile". USA Gymnastics. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Briones wins all-around silver, USA claims team bronze at 2017 RD761 International Junior Team Cup". USA Gymnastics. January 21, 2017. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "Braunton, Malone win junior men's titles at P&G Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 19, 2017. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "Briones takes 17-18 division crown, with a trio finishing first for 15-16 division at 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 18, 2018. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "USA wins team, all-around silver at 2019 RD761 Junior International Team Cup". USA Gymnastics. January 18, 2019. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "Walker, Benas bring home a total seven event medals from 2019 RD761 Junior International Team Cup". USA Gymnastics. January 20, 2019. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Mikulak wins five event medals, Walker takes junior all-around title at 2019 Winter Cup Challenge". USA Gymnastics. February 17, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Mikulak notches super six at U.S. Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 10, 2019. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  9. ^ "Mikulak Wins Senior All-Around Title 2020 Winter Cup Challenge". USA Gymnastics. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Watch Brody Malone secure the all-around title at the 2021 NCAA men's gymnastics championship". National Collegiate Athletic Association. April 17, 2021. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "Brody Malone wins first U.S. gymnastics title, with Tokyo Olympics in sight". Los Angeles Times. June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Malone takes senior all-around crown at 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Guimaraes takes men's senior all-around title at 2022 Winter Cup Presented by OZONE and TURN; five gymnasts automatically qualify to National Team". USA Gymnastics. February 26, 2022. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "U.S. men announce lineups for upcoming FIG Apparatus World Cup in Egypt, DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup in Germany". USA Gymnastics. March 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 DTB Pokal Mixed Cup Results". The Gymternet. March 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "Stanford three-peats, wins 2022 men's college gymnastics championship". National Collegiate Athletic Association. April 16, 2022.
  17. ^ "Three Olympians will lead U.S. men at Pan American Championships July 15-17". USA Gymnastics. June 7, 2022.
  18. ^ "U.S. seniors earn 14 medals, including five gold, on second day of Pan American Championships". USA Gymnastics. July 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "U.S. senior men win team title, women capture silver as Pan American Championships end". USA Gymnastics. July 17, 2022.
  20. ^ "Malone cruises to all-around title as men take over U.S. Classic". USA Gymnastics. July 31, 2022.
  21. ^ "Malone repeats as all-around champion at 2022 OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 21, 2022.
  22. ^ "U.S. men's program sending mix of World medalists, rising stars to 2022 Artistic World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 5, 2022.
  23. ^ "U.S. men fifth at Artistic World Championships". USA Gymnastics. November 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "Colt Walker on Not Wanting to be Done With Gymnastics and the Injury That Almost Gave Him No Choice". Neutral Deductions. September 7, 2023.
  25. ^ "Cardinal Captures MPSF Title". Stanford Cardinal. April 1, 2023.
  26. ^ "Stanford wins fourth-consecutive NCAA men's gymnastics title". National Collegiate Athletic Association. April 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "Hong brothers crowned as junior and senior men's all-around champions at Core Hydration Classic". USA Gymnastics. August 6, 2023.
  28. ^ "Hong rallies for U.S. men's title at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 27, 2023.
  29. ^ "U.S. Senior Men's teams named for 2023 Artistic World Championships, Pan American Games". USA Gymnastics. August 27, 2023.
  30. ^ "U.S. men claim team bronze at World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 3, 2023.
  31. ^ "U.S. men take team gold to kick off 2023 Pan American Games". USA Gymnastics. October 21, 2023.
  32. ^ "DiCello wins all-around gold; Chiles, Whittenburg bronze at Pan Am Games". USA Gymnastics. October 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "Americans collect four more medals as Pan American Games artistic competition concludes". USA Gymnastics. October 25, 2023.
  34. ^ "Colt Walker Wins Nissen-Emery Award". Pac-12 Conference. April 18, 2024. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024.
  35. ^ "The Dynasty Continues". Stanford Cardinal. April 20, 2024.
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