| Mohini Bhardwaj was born in
Philadelphia to a multicultural family with father an
Indian native Kaushal and mother a Russian Indu Bhardwaj.
She started practising gymnastics at the age of 4 and
got her training at Queen City Gymnastics until 1993.
Later she attained her training under Alexander
Alexandrov, the former Soviet National Team coach, and
Rita Brown. She trained in both Orlando and Houston.
The Indian American
gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj has made it to the US team for
the Athens Olympic games. The 25-year-old sociology
major from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
was selected for the August Olympics.
Majoring in History and
Sociology (having switched out of Earth and Science),
Mohini found success both in the classroom and in sport.
She earned All American honors during her Freshman
season, and made two event finals at the NCAA
Championships.
Mohini was a three-time
US team member. Despite a 3rd place finish in the US
Classic in 1996, Mohini placed 10th at the 1996 Olympic
Trials and did not qualify to compete at the 1996
Olympics. Despite her desire to retire from elite
gymnastics soon afterward, Mohini continued in the sport
in order to compete in the 1997 Worlds, mostly as a
result of her parent's direction. As a result, Mohini
finished 3rd at the 1997 Nationals, qualifying for her
first World Championships team. She finished 5th on
Vault, the best showing on this apparatus from an
American since 1992.
Mohini attained a
temporary retirement after an elbow injury at 2002 US
Nationals but came back successfully to represent US in
the forthcoming Athens Olympics. She received many
medals and awards during her career as gymnast, the
brief list is as here under.
| S.No |
Year |
Awards/Medals |
| 1 |
1993 |
U.S.
National Championships: 10th AA 1993 U.S.
Classic: 15th AA |
| 2 |
1993 |
U.S.
Olympic Festival: 7th AA, 6th V, 5th BB |
| 3 |
1993 |
American
Classic: 11th AA, 12th UB, 7th BB |
| 4 |
1994 |
American
Classic/World Championships Trials: 18th
AA |
| 5 |
1994 |
U.S.
National Championships: 35th AA |
| 6 |
1994 |
Puerto
Rico International Gymnastics Cup: 2nd V,
3rd BB |
| 7 |
1995 |
American
Classic/Pan American Games Trials: 10th
AA, 10th UB, 7th BB |
| 8 |
1995 |
U.S.
Olympic Festival: 5th AA, 2nd V, 2nd UB |
| 9 |
1995 |
U.S.
National Championships: 15th AA, 6th V,
4th UB |
| 10 |
1995 |
International
Mixed Pairs: 3rd AA (with Rob Kieffer) |
| 11 |
1995 |
China
Cup: 7th AA, 7th V, 5th UB, 3rd BB, 13th
FX, 2nd Mixed Pairs (with Aliaz Pegan) |
| 12 |
1995 |
Atlanta
Gymnastics Invitational: 8th AA, 1st V |
| 13 |
1996 |
American
Classic/World Championships Trials: 9th AA |
| 14 |
1996 |
U.S.
Classic, Colorado Springs: 3rd AA, 3rd V,
5th UB, 4th BB |
| 15 |
1996 |
U.S.
National Championships:12th AA, 4th V, 4th
UB, 2nd BB, 5th FX |
| 16 |
1996 |
World
Star Competition: 4th AA, 3rd V, 2nd UB,
3rd BB |
| 17 |
1996 |
Pacific
Alliance Championships: 1st T, 1st AA, 1st
V, 3rd UB, 2nd BB, 3rd FX |
| 18 |
1996 |
U.S.
Olympic Trials: 10th AA |
| 19 |
1997 |
U.S.
Gymnastics Championships: 3rd AA, 3rd V,
8th UB, 10th BB, 5th FX |
| 20 |
1997 |
American
Cup: 10th AA (prelims) |
| 21 |
1997 |
World
Gymnastics Championships: 6th T, 5th V |
| 22 |
1999 |
World
University Games: 5th T |
| 23 |
2001 |
US
National Championships: |
| 24 |
2001 |
World
Championships: 18th AA, 7th V |
| 25 |
2002 |
USA
Nationals |
| 26 |
2004 |
US
National Championships: 12th AA, 2nd V |
| 27 |
2004 |
US
Olympic Trials: 6th AA |
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