University of Minnesota Athletics
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Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Gianna Gerdes to Return for Fifth Season
7/2/2025 9:45:00 AM | Gymnastics
The 2024 graduate is a two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota head coach Jenny Hansen has announced that former Gopher Gianna Gerdes (2021-24) will return to the Gophers for her final year of eligibility. Gerdes' freshman year in 2021 was the COVID-impacted season and it did not count against her eligibility.
"This past year has been full of growth and new experiences within the sport of gymnastics," Gerdes said. "My understanding has evolved, my perspective has been enhanced, and the desire to be in the gym all the time has been persistent. From my frequent reflection of appreciation for the Gopher gymnastics program and all it has given me, I've found it impossible to resist the call back to this family. I am overwhelmed with gratitude, and feel so incredibly blessed with the opportunity to return to Gopher Gymnastics and fulfill my fifth year of eligibility with Team 52. Gopher Nation, I'm back!"
From 2021-24, Gerdes was a key part of the Gophers program, including working as an all-arounder in 2023 and 2024. She was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Championships Team (2023, 2024) selection, an AAI Award Nominee (2024) and a Big Ten Medal of Honor (2024) recipient. Gerdes earned two WCGA Academic All-American nods and a 2023-24 CSC Academic All-America honor. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 20, 2023.
"Her return is a testament to her unwavering passion for the sport and this program," Hansen said. "She brings unmatched energy and enthusiasm to everything she does, and we are absolutely thrilled that she will get the opportunity to be a part of Team 52 and build upon her legacy as a Gopher gymnast."
Gerdes' career-highs include 39.575 in the all-around, 9.900 on vault, 9.925 on bars, 9.900 on beam and 9.950 on floor. In her final year in 2024, she posted 11 event titles, including six in the all around, two on bars and one each on vault, beam and floor. During her four years at the 'U', Minnesota made four NCAA Tournament appearances, three regional finals, two NCAA Championships (2021, 2022) and won a Big Ten title in 2021.
She will be back on campus at Minnesota in late August and enroll in a graduate program in the fall semester.
"This past year has been full of growth and new experiences within the sport of gymnastics," Gerdes said. "My understanding has evolved, my perspective has been enhanced, and the desire to be in the gym all the time has been persistent. From my frequent reflection of appreciation for the Gopher gymnastics program and all it has given me, I've found it impossible to resist the call back to this family. I am overwhelmed with gratitude, and feel so incredibly blessed with the opportunity to return to Gopher Gymnastics and fulfill my fifth year of eligibility with Team 52. Gopher Nation, I'm back!"
From 2021-24, Gerdes was a key part of the Gophers program, including working as an all-arounder in 2023 and 2024. She was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Championships Team (2023, 2024) selection, an AAI Award Nominee (2024) and a Big Ten Medal of Honor (2024) recipient. Gerdes earned two WCGA Academic All-American nods and a 2023-24 CSC Academic All-America honor. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 20, 2023.
"Her return is a testament to her unwavering passion for the sport and this program," Hansen said. "She brings unmatched energy and enthusiasm to everything she does, and we are absolutely thrilled that she will get the opportunity to be a part of Team 52 and build upon her legacy as a Gopher gymnast."
Gerdes' career-highs include 39.575 in the all-around, 9.900 on vault, 9.925 on bars, 9.900 on beam and 9.950 on floor. In her final year in 2024, she posted 11 event titles, including six in the all around, two on bars and one each on vault, beam and floor. During her four years at the 'U', Minnesota made four NCAA Tournament appearances, three regional finals, two NCAA Championships (2021, 2022) and won a Big Ten title in 2021.
She will be back on campus at Minnesota in late August and enroll in a graduate program in the fall semester.
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