April Burkholder was born on July 2, 1983 in Harlingen, Texas. She is the daughter of Joe Burkholder and Debbie Starnes. She has a younger brother, Joel. Her sister Ashley was a gymnast at Kentucky. April was the JO National Champion in 1997, 1999 and 2001. She trained at Excel Gymnastics, Brown's Houston, Karolyi's and Acrofit.

As a freshman in 2003, at LSU, she was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. She led the LSU team and clinched the NCAA National Championships spot. As a sophomore in 2004, April was named NCAA Central Region and SEC Gymnast of the Year. She earned both All-America and All-SEC honors. April was first team selection on vault, beam and in the all-around and second-team on floor. She made All-SEC in the all-around. April won the NCAA Regional titles in the all-around and floor, vault and bars.

During her junior year, April was NCAA Region and SEC Gymnast of the Year for the second time in the row. April was All-America first team on vault, floor and in the all-around. She was second-team on bars and beam. She was Regional titles in the all-around, floor, vault and beam. April was an All-SEC in the all-around. She was also a member of the SEC Academic honor roll. As a senior in 2006, April won the beam title at the NCAA Championships in Oregon. She earned first-team All-America honors on each of the four events and in the all-around. She earned first-team SEC honors for the third time.

Fast Facts Name: April Burkholder Birthday: July 2, 1983 Club: Excel College: LSU LSU

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full scholarship to LSU Fourteen All-American Honors Three-Time JO National Champion 2006: NCAA Beam Champion

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Photos © Lloyd Smith & WL Castleman