Melanie Sinclair was born in Orlando, Florida on August 16, 1987. Her parents are Melbourne and Petrice. She has a sister, Ayanna. She began gymnastics at the age of seven in 1994. She trained with Jeff Wood at Orlando Metro Gymnastics during her club career.

In 1999, Melanie competed as a junior international elite. She finished in the top twenty at the American Classic. She did the same at the US National Championships. She made her first national team. In 2000, Melanie finished sixth all-around at the US Classic. She was injured at did not get to compete at Nationals. In 2001, she qualified to Nationals at the US Classic. At Nationals, she finished eleventh all-around! Melanie was selected for the Canberra Cup. She finished second all-around.

Her final year as a junior was in 2002. She finished third all-around at the National Elite Podium Meet. She only competed on bars at the American Classic. Melanie was selected for the Gymnix International. She finished fourth. At the Pacific Alliance Championships, Melanie won a bronze in the all-around! After only competing one event at the US Classic, Melanie placed eighth all-around at the US National Championships! She then competed at the Junior Pan Am Games. She finished first on bars and beam! Her final meet of the season was the USA vs. Canada. Melanie finished first on bars.

She had to move up to senior international elite in 2003. She only competed at the IGI Chicago Style. She missed the rest of the season with a back injury.

Melanie came back in 2004 to win the IGI Chicago Style. She won two events at the Gasparilla Classic. She then went to Germany for the Cottbus Cup. Melanie won two bronze medals, one on vault and one on beam. She hurt her knee shortly before Nationals. She only competed on bars. At the Olympic Trials, Melanie competed in the all-around competition. In the fall, she competed in two international elite. At the Ghent World Cup, she finished second on bars. At the PAGU Championship, Melanie won three silvers, one on vault, bars and floor.

Her final year as an elite was in 2005. She finished second on vault and eighth on floor at the American Cup! She then went on the European Tour with the United States Team. She finished second all-around against Switzerland. Melanie did not compete all-around at the US Classic. She scratched from Nationals. She was supposed to compete at the Massillia Cup in France but became injured.

Melanie enrolled at the University of Florida for the spring semester in 2006. She did not compete because of an injury. She redshirted the season. She won her first meet during the 2007 season. She won the all-around at the Super Six Challenge. Melanie was an All-American first-team member on bars and beam. She competed in event finals on both events. She was an All-SEC second-team member after placing second on bars at the SEC Championships. She scored two perfect tens against Kentucky and NC State. She was SEC Gymnast of the Week after winning both bars and floor against Michigan State. Melanie earned eleven event titles including eight bars titles. She was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

In 2008, she earned four All-American honors in the all-around, vault, bars and beam. She competed in bars and beam finals. She claimed four Regional titles; vault, bars, floor and the all-around. She was the SEC Champion on uneven bars earning a spot on the All-SEC Team. She was named SEC Gymnast of the Week after winning the all-around at the season opener. She competed in the all-around nine times. Melanie won sixteen event titles including eight on bars.

She earned three All-American honors in the all-around, bars and floor in 2009. She competed in the event finals on bars. She earned her third All-SEC honor after finishing fifth in the all-around. She earned a perfeect ten on bars against Kentucky. She was named SEC Gymnast of the Week. She earned fourteen event titles including six on bars and three in the all-around. At the beginning of the season, she won bars four times in a row. She competed in the all-around at every meet. She was dismissed from the Florida team before the 2010 season.

Fast Facts Name: Melanie Sinclair Birthday: August 16, 1987 Club: Orlando Metro College: Florida Florida

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full Scholarship to Florida US National Team 1999-2005 2005: American Cup- 2nd VT 2004: Olympic Trials Qualifier 2002: US Nationals- 8th AA 2002: Pacific Alliance- 3rd AA 2001: Canberra Cup- 2nd AA

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Photos © Lloyd Smith & WL Castleman