Amanda Borden was team captain of the 1996 Olympic team that won gold. She was also a member of the 1993 and 1994 world teams.
Just-Missed in 1992:
Borden placed fifth all-around at the 1992 US nationals, and her chances of making the Olympic team looked good. But at the Trials she placed seventh, and when injury petitions were accepted from Betty Okino and Michelle Campi, Borden just missed the team. Coach Mary Lee Tracy later told TeamUSA.org that being so close was tough on Borden, "Amanda wanted to hang it up for a period after that. For a period of time after (1992), it was very devastating..."
The Magnificent Seven:
Borden qualified to the 1996 Olympic team by the skin of her teeth -- she placed fifth all-around at the Olympic Trials, and with petitions from Shannon Miller and Dominique Moceanu, earned the seventh spot on the team.
She was named team captain, and competed on beam and floor in the team finals, helping the US win its first ever team gold in women's gymnastics.
On beam especially, she excelled, nailing her routine in the lead-off position, and setting the team up for a strong beam rotation. Watch Amanda Borden's beam set.
Personal Info:
Borden was born May 10, 1977 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was primarily coached by Mary Lee Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy for her elite career.
Borden married Brad Cochran in May 2006, and now goes by the name Borden-Cochran. The couple owns Gold Medal Gymnastics, which has facilities in Tempe and Chandler, Arizona. When the Tempe gym opened in 2004, five of the other six members of Magnificent Seven came to help celebrate (Miller, Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps, Amy Chow, and Kerri Strug).
Borden-Cochran has two kids: Kennedy, born in July of 2007, and Brody, born in July 2010.
Gymnastics Results:
International:
- 1996 Olympic Games: 1st team
- 1996 Budget Rent a Car Gymnastics Invitational USA vs. France: 1st team
- 1995 Pan American Games: 1st team; 2nd all-around; 1st beam; 2nd floor
- 1995 McDonald's American Cup: 3rd all-around; 1st beam; 1st floor
- 1995 Reese's International Gymnastics Cup: 2nd bars; 1st floor
- 1994 Team World Championships: 2nd team
- 1994 Hilton Challenge: 1st team; 4th all-around
- 1994 World Gymnastics Championships: 8th bars
- 1994 International Mixed Pairs: 4th all-around (with Chainey Umphrey)
- 1994 McDonald's American Cup: 13th all-around (preliminaries, did not advance to finals)
- 1993 Chunichi Cup: 11th all-around; 5th bars; 6th floor
- 1993 Tokyo Cup: 3rd bars
- 1993 Hilton Challenge: 1st team; 4th all-around
- 1993 World Championships: alternate
- 1993 Reebok International Mixed Pairs: 6th all-around (with Neil Thomas)
- 1993 McDonald's American Cup: 8th all-around
- 1992 Pacific Alliance Championships: 2nd team; 9th all-around
- 1996 US Olympic Trials: 5th all-around
- 1996 Coca-Cola National Championships: 4th all-around
- 1996 US Classic: 2nd all-around; 3rd vault (tie); 1st bars (tie); 2nd beam; 4th floor
- 1995 American Classic/Pan American Games Trials: 2nd all-around (tie); 3rd bars (tie); 2nd beam; 2nd floor
- 1994 NationsBank World Team Trials: 3rd all-around
- 1994 Coca-Cola National Championships: 3rd all-around; 3rd bars; 3rd floor 3rd-AA
- 1994 US Classic: 1st all-around
- 1994 American Classic/World Championships Trials: 2nd all-around
- 1993 Coca-Cola National Championships: 4th all-around; 6th beam; 6th floor
- 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival: 5th vault; 4th bars
- 1993 American Classic/World Championships Trials: 3rd all-around; 3rd vault (tie); 6th bars; 3rd beam
- 1992 US Olympic Trials: 7th all-around
- 1992 US Gymnastics Championships: 5th all-around; 4th beam; 4th floor
- 1992 US Classic: 6th all-around; 4th bars; 1st floor
- 1991 American Classic (Jr. Division): 12th all-around; 2nd beam; 1st floor
- 1990 American Classic (Jr. Division): 3rd all-around; 2nd vault; 1st beam
