US gymnast, Polina Shchennikova has chosen to attend the University of Michigan for her college gymnastics career.
The elite gymnast on the US National team announced her commitment via her Instagram account on Wednesday, May 6th. Russian born Polina has been compared to a fellow Russian born US gymnast, Nastia Liukin, since they’re both blond, leggy and have beautiful toe point and dynamic performances on the uneven bars.
Polina became a senior in 2014, but was sidelined through most of the year due to injury. She’s coached at TIGAR gymnastics by her parents, Alex and Katya and her sister, Alyonna is also an elite gymnast.
She’s currently a junior according to her Instagram, so it’s likely she’ll start attending Michigan in the 2016-2017 season along with fellow recruits, Lexi Funk and Madison Osman. This is also ideal if she is still planning to make a bid for the 2016 Rio Olympics since she won’t have to defer a year. Best of luck to Polina.
Article by: Maria Layton
Photo Cover: Brigid McCarthy