UCLA’s Maloney Is Named Winner of a Honda Award

UCLA’s Kristen Maloney was recognized as the nation’s top female gymnast Tuesday, winning the Honda Award in gymnastics after a stellar season highlighted by two NCAA individual titles last month.

Maloney, a former two-time U.S. champion, battled back from leg injuries over the last few years to win titles in the vault and balance beam in the NCAA championships at Auburn, Ala.

Maloney outpolled Annabeth Eberle of Utah, Richelle Simpson of Nebraska and Elise Ray of Michigan in national voting among NCAA-member institutions. Winners of the award in various sports are nominated for the Broderick Award, to be given June 29.

“It is a great honor to be the recipient of the Honda Award for gymnastics this year,” Maloney said. “To be able to finish out my career like this is really amazing.”

Maloney, who sat out two full seasons while undergoing multiple surgeries on her right leg, became one of four gymnasts in NCAA history to score a perfect 10 in all four disciplines in her career when she received a 10 on the uneven bars March 6 against Florida.

Maloney is UCLA’s fifth Honda winner for gymnastics, joining Onnie Willis, Mohini Bhardwaj, Jill Andrews and Sharon Shapiro.