Kennedy Baker: Leading by example

Kennedy Baker is full of sass when she performs on floor.

She loads each one of her facial expressions, leaps and tumbling passes with a dramatic flourish.

A sad update to this feature from Kennedy Baker's Instagram after her season ending injury in the Feb. 23 meet

No words can express how shocked and devastated I am with the way that things ended for me. I felt it in my soul before the pain ever reached my foot. While my career may have come to a close too soon, the Gator gymnastics team still has so much more to accomplish. I believe in each and every single one of my teammates, and I know that they have my back?? There aren't enough ways to express the gratitude I have towards gymnastics, and I am forever grateful for all of the lessons I've learned through the sport and how it has molded me into the person I am today. I will always hold a special place in my heart for Texas Dreams and Gator Nation. From US national team to Olympic Trials to an 11x collegiate All American and a national championship, I truly accomplished more than I ever thought I was capable of. Thank you to all who supported me throughout the years, I see and hear every single person. I love you guys so much??

A post shared by Kennedy Baker (@kennedy_baker) on Feb 24, 2018 at 12:08pm PST

"I don't have to really perform," she said. "I'm just being myself."

Normally, by the end of her routine, the crowd at the O'Connell Center is on their feet roaring for a 10 from the judges.

The last time she performed it in Gainesville, the judges agreed and gave her the third perfect mark of her career.

"She is one that can turn on the switch and just shine," Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland said. "It's an amazing quality that she has."

The 11-time All-American senior from Dallas, Texas, was an accomplished elite gymnast prior to joining the Gator squad in 2013.

She was a two-time member of U.S. Senior National Team and placed eighth in the all-around at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

And since being in Gainesville, she has solidified herself as one of the most accomplished gymnasts in Florida's history.

36488 — In the 2017 edition of Gators Link to Pink, Kennedy Baker (center) celebrated her second career 10.0 for floor exercise. She earned her third perfect floor mark in her last home appearance versus Alabama on Feb. 9, 2018.

"Kennedy more leads by her example and her training," sophomore Amelia Hundley said. "She is just such a great gymnast and we all want to be like that eventually."

As one of only three Gators on the team with a NCAA Championship title, Baker is hoping to lead her younger teammates on another title run this season.

"We definitely know what it takes," she said. "If they have any questions or need any guidance or anything, I definitely take on that leadership aspect and point them in the right direction."

However, even when her gymnastics career ends after this season, she's hoping this won't be the last time you see and hear about her.

She plans on moving to Los Angeles after graduation to pursue a career in acting.

Her goal is to land a spot on a television show or series.

But she also wouldn't pass up the opportunity to be featured in a movie if that came along.

As for her legacy at UF?

She wants to be remembered as someone who was "epic".

"When people reflect back and they think of me, I just want them to think of a fun person," she said. "I really want to be remembered by always having awesome floor routines, and just always being a fun competitor and being a really, really great teammate."

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