Gators gymnast Morgan Hurd during Florida's win over Auburn last week at the O'Dome. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Hurd's Return to Spotlight Brings Back Memories of First Brush with Notoriety
Friday, January 20, 2023 | Gymnastics
Editor's note: This is the second installment of a series featuring the first-season journey of Gators gymnast Morgan Hurd, a highly decorated elite gymnast and 2017 all-around champion at the World Championships. Hurd made her UF debut Jan. 6 after having to sit out her freshman season due to a knee injury.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Olympian Nastia Liukin held the microphone up to her mouth as she looked down at 12-year-old Morgan Hurd, who awaited the question at the Nastia Liukin Cup at the Greensboro Coliseum.
It was Feb. 28, 2014. Hurd fixed her gaze upon Liukin.
"This has to be probably the biggest competition of your career so far. Tell me what's going on in your head right now," Liukin asked.
Hurd knew precisely how she wanted to answer the question. In fact, she had practiced her response internally. Her face radiated with excitement as she smiled from cheek to cheek as Liukin extended the microphone.
"Um, I'm about 85 percent nervous, and the rest is kind of excitement, but nervous or like the other way around, actually," Hurd confidently said with a giggle as her eyes beamed at Liukin.
The Liukin Cup was a highly anticipated moment for Hurd. She was one of the youngest competitors, and it was her first major event after missing the previous season due to her first elbow surgery.
Not to mention, it was Hurd's first interview — broadcast on TV and in front of a large crowd.
"She had told me what she was going to ask me beforehand, and so I practiced that in my head, and the time comes, and I messed it up," Hurd said recently. "And I completely switched up the words. I was so embarrassed."
Nine years later, the memory draws a chuckle from Hurd, a Gators redshirt freshman. She recognizes the magnitude of that moment.
Undoubtedly, it was a big step in her career, preparing the highly decorated gymnast for what was to come.
Hurd took another step in her collegiate career on equality night in the second meet of the season on Jan. 13. In Florida's Southeastern Conference opener against Auburn, Hurd was scheduled to compete on beam. She opened the rotation with a 9.725.
Initially, the beam was the only event in which she was scheduled to compete. However, due to a warmup injury to Rachel Baumann, Hurd stepped in to close out the night for the Gators on floor.
It was her floor debut for the Gators and her first floor routine in competition since her knee surgery in January 2022.
Fans and teammates cheered as Hurd performed to the music "Avatar: The Last Airbender Theme and Avatar Agni Kai" by Samuel Kim.
Hurd brought the sass and delivered the energy. She added an exclamation point to an already stellar night for Gators Gymnastics as she earned a 9.825.
The performance represented a journey in which Hurd continues to explore what's next.
"Just knowing what Morgan has gone through in her gymnastics career over the last couple of years, overcoming injuries and coming back and pushing through and just always coming and working to the very best of her ability with all of her heart and might," Gators coach Jenny Rowland said. "It was just so fulfilling to see her able to get out there and perform."
Rowland watched the routine as excitement radiated outward. With each move and each skill, her arms went up in the air, cheering, clapping and celebrating the moment.
"It honestly made me so happy that they were just genuinely so excited, and their excitement was so great that they couldn't contain it within themselves," Hurd said.
The routine was fun; Hurd could take a deep breath when it ended and celebrate with her teammates.
"It's honestly just so much fun because I love the energy the crowd gives me, and I love putting on a show," Hurd said. "So I was just honestly just so excited afterward, I almost didn't even feel tired."
As she closed her routine, Hurd ended it with a Gators chomp in unison with the crowd at the O'Dome.
Her teammates raced to the middle of the floor and mobbed her. This was a time to be celebrated and cherish another step in the right direction on her journey.
In 2023, Hurd can reflect on the 2014 Morgan Hurd, who was doing her first interview with Nastia Liukin. What would she tell the 12-year-old version of herself that she is proud of?
"You made it this far already."
The world-class gymnast has made it while overcoming hurdles, returning from a significant injury, and bringing joy to those around her.
Hurd is now looking ahead to the Gators' second SEC matchup as they compete at Alabama on Friday night.
"There's always something to improve on, no matter how well you think you did the last meet, so I just want to keep taking steps forward."
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Olympian Nastia Liukin held the microphone up to her mouth as she looked down at 12-year-old Morgan Hurd, who awaited the question at the Nastia Liukin Cup at the Greensboro Coliseum.
It was Feb. 28, 2014. Hurd fixed her gaze upon Liukin.
"This has to be probably the biggest competition of your career so far. Tell me what's going on in your head right now," Liukin asked.
Hurd knew precisely how she wanted to answer the question. In fact, she had practiced her response internally. Her face radiated with excitement as she smiled from cheek to cheek as Liukin extended the microphone.
"Um, I'm about 85 percent nervous, and the rest is kind of excitement, but nervous or like the other way around, actually," Hurd confidently said with a giggle as her eyes beamed at Liukin.
The Liukin Cup was a highly anticipated moment for Hurd. She was one of the youngest competitors, and it was her first major event after missing the previous season due to her first elbow surgery.
Not to mention, it was Hurd's first interview — broadcast on TV and in front of a large crowd.
"She had told me what she was going to ask me beforehand, and so I practiced that in my head, and the time comes, and I messed it up," Hurd said recently. "And I completely switched up the words. I was so embarrassed."
Nine years later, the memory draws a chuckle from Hurd, a Gators redshirt freshman. She recognizes the magnitude of that moment.
Undoubtedly, it was a big step in her career, preparing the highly decorated gymnast for what was to come.
Hurd took another step in her collegiate career on equality night in the second meet of the season on Jan. 13. In Florida's Southeastern Conference opener against Auburn, Hurd was scheduled to compete on beam. She opened the rotation with a 9.725.
Initially, the beam was the only event in which she was scheduled to compete. However, due to a warmup injury to Rachel Baumann, Hurd stepped in to close out the night for the Gators on floor.
It was her floor debut for the Gators and her first floor routine in competition since her knee surgery in January 2022.
Fans and teammates cheered as Hurd performed to the music "Avatar: The Last Airbender Theme and Avatar Agni Kai" by Samuel Kim.
Hurd brought the sass and delivered the energy. She added an exclamation point to an already stellar night for Gators Gymnastics as she earned a 9.825.
The performance represented a journey in which Hurd continues to explore what's next.
"Just knowing what Morgan has gone through in her gymnastics career over the last couple of years, overcoming injuries and coming back and pushing through and just always coming and working to the very best of her ability with all of her heart and might," Gators coach Jenny Rowland said. "It was just so fulfilling to see her able to get out there and perform."
Rowland watched the routine as excitement radiated outward. With each move and each skill, her arms went up in the air, cheering, clapping and celebrating the moment.
Brought the ENERGY for EQUALITY NIGHT.
— Owen Field (@CoachOwenField) January 17, 2023
💙🐊🫶🏼#Equality #Pride #BLM#GoGators #GatorNation pic.twitter.com/aW3INUO2WD
"It honestly made me so happy that they were just genuinely so excited, and their excitement was so great that they couldn't contain it within themselves," Hurd said.
The routine was fun; Hurd could take a deep breath when it ended and celebrate with her teammates.
"It's honestly just so much fun because I love the energy the crowd gives me, and I love putting on a show," Hurd said. "So I was just honestly just so excited afterward, I almost didn't even feel tired."
As she closed her routine, Hurd ended it with a Gators chomp in unison with the crowd at the O'Dome.
Her teammates raced to the middle of the floor and mobbed her. This was a time to be celebrated and cherish another step in the right direction on her journey.
In 2023, Hurd can reflect on the 2014 Morgan Hurd, who was doing her first interview with Nastia Liukin. What would she tell the 12-year-old version of herself that she is proud of?
"You made it this far already."
The world-class gymnast has made it while overcoming hurdles, returning from a significant injury, and bringing joy to those around her.
Hurd is now looking ahead to the Gators' second SEC matchup as they compete at Alabama on Friday night.
"There's always something to improve on, no matter how well you think you did the last meet, so I just want to keep taking steps forward."
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