Denver’s toughest athlete is set to compete against the nation’s best.

DU gymnast Nina McGee will be heading to Fort Worth later this week to compete in the women’s NCAA Gymnastics championships as an individual qualifier. Unlike many other competitions, McGee will be traveling to the event without any of her teammates. She will be a contender for the national all-around championship after finishing 11th overall last year. The championships will be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena, April 15-16.

If she can pull off an all-around title, she would achieve a Denver first. However, she will be facing long odds and tough competition. But she has faced tougher hurdles in the past.

McGee’s best event is the floor, but she will compete in the bars, beam, and vault as well for the all-around title.

The women’s gymnastics championships consist of 12 teams and 12 all-around competitors who are not on a qualifying team (this group includes McGee).  The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors from each of the six regionals have advanced to the national championships. In addition, the event winners at each regional also advance to the national championships (in their specific event) if they were not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers. So, McGee’s path will be challenging – but she has shown consistency this year, winning at least one event in every meet this year.

Team semifinal and all-around competition will be conducted in two sessions Friday, April 15, at 1 and 7 p.m. All sessions of the championship will be broadcast live on ESPNU. If you are in the Fort Worth area, go see Nina this weekend!