Graduate student Cameron Machado announced Tuesday she is medically retiring from gymnastics after suffering from an injury the week before the season-opening meet against North Carolina.
“It’s been a blessing and an honor to represent the Script A, and Alabama gymnastics will always hold a special place in my heart,” Machado said in an Instagram post.
Machado was a key gymnast in the uneven bars and floor lineups. In her senior season, she scored career bests in both events. At the Texas Women’s University quad meet, she posted a 9.975 on the uneven bars. Against Georgia, she earned a 9.95 on the floor.
Machado also competed on the balance beam twice during the 2021 season and was expected to return to the lineup this season.
In all her seasons competing for Alabama, Machado earned Scholastic All-American and SEC Academic Honor Roll honors.
While being a key competitor and strong student, she has also been a leader on the team, head coach Ashley Johnston said.
“She truly has been such a standard of excellence in how she has served this team, and what a teammate she’s been,” Johnston said. “We’re sad to see her career end right now, but we know that she’s going to continue to pour into the team and do what she can to help our team accomplish our goals this season.”