Junior Alex McMurtry has found perfection in both the classroom and on the competition floor.
Alex McMurtry: Perfection in Competition & Classroom
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | Gymnastics
She's scored a perfect 10.0 four times. McMurtry also has a 4.0 grade point average.
Whether it's receiving a perfect 10 in a routine, achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average in school or calculating bonding energies in organic chemistry, Alex McMurtry's life revolves around numbers.
For Florida's junior all-around superstar, perfection starts in the classroom prior to entering the gymnastics studio.
"I don't want to get a B because it'll drop my GPA, and it'll never be at that perfect 4.0 again," McMurtry said. "But that is just like a perfect routine, you have to do everything you can to get that 10."
McMurtry is majoring in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK) with a specialty in Exercise Physiology. Not only is that area of study challenging, but it is one of the most demanding majors offered at the University of Florida.
However, her major seems to come naturally to McMurtry, considering she has a good understanding of the human body as a gymnast.
"You go into an anatomy class and you already know a lot because you broke that bone when you were 12," the 5-2 gymnast said. "I've always been interested in health professions. It's everything I love."
McMurtry's friendships within the APK major have helped her immensely in her studies. If she misses a class due to traveling for a meet, her classmates are more than willing to help.
"That has been my biggest outside support," McMurtry said.
Striving for perfection has always been the goal McMurtry seeks, but that mentality and drive makes it hard for her to find some downtime.
"I think my biggest struggle is not my academics, but finding time to relax," McMurtry said. "That is the goal for this year."
McMurtry explained her support system has helped her realize that everyone has limitations and she needs to slow down and catch her breath once in a while.
She's learned from former teammates and friends Bianca Dancose-Giambatisto and Bridgette Caquatto who were also APK majors.
"They definitely gave me some reassurance," she said. "Just to know that you can do both and you don't have to sacrifice one or the other. I think that was the biggest thing I learned from them."
Being a veteran and an older voice on the team now, McMurtry's goal is to affect her teammates in a positive way, just as Dancose-Giambatisto and Caquatto did with her.
McMurtry has a knack for achieving things that have never been seen before. For example, the junior maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA, while adding the Yurchenko double twist vault to her competitive repertoire.
Don't know what type of double twist that is? Well, that's because the Yurchenko double twist is rarely done at the college level.
McMurtry switches between the Yurchenko full (9.95 start value) and Yurchenko double (10.0 start value) this season. Both have scored well, as she received a perfect 9.95 for the Yurchenko full at North Carolina and then a season-high 9.95 for the Yurchenko double versus Auburn.
"I don't care if it's hard," McMurtry said in closing. "If you study enough or practice enough, nothing is hard and it always becomes easier."
For Florida's junior all-around superstar, perfection starts in the classroom prior to entering the gymnastics studio.
"I don't want to get a B because it'll drop my GPA, and it'll never be at that perfect 4.0 again," McMurtry said. "But that is just like a perfect routine, you have to do everything you can to get that 10."
McMurtry is majoring in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK) with a specialty in Exercise Physiology. Not only is that area of study challenging, but it is one of the most demanding majors offered at the University of Florida.
However, her major seems to come naturally to McMurtry, considering she has a good understanding of the human body as a gymnast.
"You go into an anatomy class and you already know a lot because you broke that bone when you were 12," the 5-2 gymnast said. "I've always been interested in health professions. It's everything I love."
McMurtry's friendships within the APK major have helped her immensely in her studies. If she misses a class due to traveling for a meet, her classmates are more than willing to help.
"That has been my biggest outside support," McMurtry said.
Striving for perfection has always been the goal McMurtry seeks, but that mentality and drive makes it hard for her to find some downtime.
"I think my biggest struggle is not my academics, but finding time to relax," McMurtry said. "That is the goal for this year."
McMurtry explained her support system has helped her realize that everyone has limitations and she needs to slow down and catch her breath once in a while.
She's learned from former teammates and friends Bianca Dancose-Giambatisto and Bridgette Caquatto who were also APK majors.
"They definitely gave me some reassurance," she said. "Just to know that you can do both and you don't have to sacrifice one or the other. I think that was the biggest thing I learned from them."
Being a veteran and an older voice on the team now, McMurtry's goal is to affect her teammates in a positive way, just as Dancose-Giambatisto and Caquatto did with her.
McMurtry has a knack for achieving things that have never been seen before. For example, the junior maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA, while adding the Yurchenko double twist vault to her competitive repertoire.
Don't know what type of double twist that is? Well, that's because the Yurchenko double twist is rarely done at the college level.
McMurtry switches between the Yurchenko full (9.95 start value) and Yurchenko double (10.0 start value) this season. Both have scored well, as she received a perfect 9.95 for the Yurchenko full at North Carolina and then a season-high 9.95 for the Yurchenko double versus Auburn.
"I don't care if it's hard," McMurtry said in closing. "If you study enough or practice enough, nothing is hard and it always becomes easier."
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ GymnasticsSkylar Draser: Gator Life
Tuesday, April 28
Jenny Rowland - NCAA Final 4-18-2026
Saturday, April 18
Riley McCusker - NCAA Final 4-18-2026
Saturday, April 18
NCAA Championships | Coach Rowland, Riley McCusker and eMjae Frazier 4-16-26
Friday, April 17
