University of Denver senior Jessica López, the first DU gymnast to ever compete in the Olympic Games, competed Aug. 10 in the women’s qualification of the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished 43rd in the all-around with a score of 56.175. López needed to finish in the top 24 to move on to the all-around finals.
López finished 52nd overall in the floor exercise with a score of 13.95 and No. 61 on balance beam with a score of 14.050. She also finished 61st on uneven bars with a score of 13.800 and 56th overall on vault with a score of 14.375, her highest score of any event at the games. Her all-around score of 56.175 placed her 43rd among 62 gymnasts that competed in all four events.
DU sophomore gymnast Annamari Maaranen also earned her right to compete in the Olympic Games by qualifying for Finland, but she sustained a knee injury in January during DU’s 2008 season that damaged her chances and she was unable to compete in Beijing.