You're a Wizard, Morgan!

October 9, 2017 7:52 AM

On Friday night in Montreal, 16-year-old Morgan Hurd won the women’s all-around title at the World Gymnastics Championship. Miss Hurd wasn’t expected to be the United States’ top contender. She finished sixth in this year’s U.S. championships and until this weekend had no “career highlights” listed in her official USA Gymnastics biography. But now, thanks to her own breakthrough performances and injuries sustained by other gymnasts, she is champion of the world. The feat also earned her high praise from her favorite author.

In Praise of Morgan Hurd, Glasses-Wearing Gymnastics World Champion.

Hurd hadn’t even made the all-around podium at the U.S. national championships this year, but is now the world Gold medal winner. Two days later, she won a Silver medal for balance beam.

On Twitter: @USAGym (USA Gymnastics): "When your first career highlight reads: WORLD ALL-AROUND CHAMPION!"

posted by zarq (16 comments total)

I hadn't been following gymnastics this year. I loved reading about Morgan Hurd and was happily surprised to also read how well canada did.
posted by biggreenplant at 8:01 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

speaking of canada none of the videos in any of the links can be played here
posted by wreckingball at 8:12 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]

I personally find it very suspicious that a 16-year-old like Morgan Hurd was even able to enter the Triwizard Tournament.
posted by kyrademon at 8:16 AM on October 9, 2017 [27 favorites]

Videos in the post are from USA Gymnastics and US restricted. A YouTube user has posted unrestricted versions of two of them.

Floor Exercise

Judge's Decision

On preview, yes, sorry. Have been hunting for unrestricted versions. There are a ton of videos of her during the qualifying rounds on YouTube, if you search under her name, but not all are available outside the US.
posted by zarq at 8:29 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

I can imagine I'd have a similar reaction if JK Rowling personally sent me a tweet, and I'm a 63 year old man.
posted by pjern at 8:45 AM on October 9, 2017 [15 favorites]

Beyond the "omg how is that possible for a human" when looking at this level of gymnast she was wonderfully lyrical with her in between port de bras, dance steps and leaps!
posted by sammyo at 9:03 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

Morgan was born in China and adopted by American parents when she was two, so her story has been making rounds in Chinese social media.

I can't get over the fact that she can do all this wearing glasses. No excuses for the rest of us 'four eyes' now.
posted by of strange foe at 9:13 AM on October 9, 2017 [5 favorites]

She's delightful. All of this is delightful!
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 9:20 AM on October 9, 2017

How does she keep her glasses on?
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 9:42 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

I checked the videos again- looks like they're strapped on.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:02 AM on October 9, 2017

This made me well up with happy tears. Wonderful story!!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 10:29 AM on October 9, 2017

She has a neoprene strap attached to the end of each earpiece that wraps around the back of her head.
posted by zarq at 11:43 AM on October 9, 2017

I appreciate Zarq's effort, but none of the links are working from up north...
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 3:01 PM on October 9, 2017

See this comment.
posted by zarq at 3:22 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

Girls who wear glasses make excellent passes!
posted by pangolin party at 5:19 PM on October 9, 2017 [3 favorites]

Tumbling passes, that is.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:38 PM on October 9, 2017