Ciena Alipio (born March 7, 2004) is an American artistic gymnast and former member of the United States women's national gymnastics team. She currently competes in NCAA gymnastics for the UCLA Bruins.

Ciena Alipio
Full nameCiena Alipio
Nickname(s)C
Country represented United States
Born (2004-03-07) March 7, 2004 (age 20)
San Jose, California USA
ResidenceMaplewood, Minnesota
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
Years on national team2019–22 (USA)
ClubMidwest Gymnastics Center
College teamUCLA Bruins (2023–26)
Head coach(es)Jess Graba
Alison Lim
Medal record
Representing the  United States

Early life

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Alipio was born to Linda and Dante Alipio in 2004 in San Jose, California. She has one brother, Eric.[1] Alpio's mother's side of the family is from the Navajo Nation.[2]

Gymnastics career

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2015–16

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In 2015 Alipio was part of the Junior Olympic Program and competed at various HOPEs competitions. She competed at the 2015 HOPES Championships where she placed first on the balance, second in the all-around and on floor exercise, sixth on uneven bars, and eighth on vault. In 2016 she competed at the 2016 Women's Junior Olympic National Championships where she placed second on floor exercise. She also competed at the 2016 Hopes Classic where she placed first in the all-around[3] and at 2016 Hopes Championships where she placed first on balance beam and second in the all-around.

2017–18

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In 2017 Alipio qualified for junior elite status at the Brestyans National Qualifier.[4] She made her elite debut at the American Classic where she placed 11th in the all-around.[5] In late July she competed at the 2017 U.S. Classic where she placed 16th in the all-around.[6] She ended the season competing at the 2017 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships where she placed 21st in the all-around.[7]

In early July of 2018, Alipio competed at the American Classic where she placed ninth in the all-around.[8] Later that month she competed at the 2018 U.S. Classic where she placed 17th in the all-around.[9] In August Alipio competed at the 2018 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships. She finished sixteenth in the all-around but won silver on balance beam, finishing behind Konnor McClain.[10]

2019

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In February, Alipio was named to the team to compete at the 2019 City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, her first international assignment, alongside Kayla DiCello, Konnor McClain, and Sophia Butler.[11] As a result, she was added onto the junior national team. While there she helped the USA win team silver behind Russia and individually she won silver on balance beam behind Russian Viktoria Listunova, bronze on vault behind McClain and Listunova, and placed eighth in the all-around.[12]

In June Alipio competed at the Junior World Championships Trials where she placed fifth in the all-around, but placed first on balance beam and third on uneven bars; however she was not named to team.[13] Later that month she competed at the American Classic where she won gold in the all-around and on uneven bars, and placed second on balance beam.[14] In July Alipio competed at the U.S. Classic where she finished fifth in the all-around behind Konnor McClain, Sydney Barros, Olivia Greaves, and Skye Blakely. She won silver on the balance beam behind McClain, placed tenth on vault, and eleventh on uneven bars and floor exercise.[15]

2021–22

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In November 2021 Alipio made her senior international debut at the Arthur Gander Memorial in Morges, Switzerland.[16] She placed third in the three-event all-around behind Angelina Melnikova of Russia and Taïs Boura of France.[17]

In August 2022 Alipio competed at the National Championships. She finished second on balance beam behind Konnor McClain.[18]

Collegiate gymnastics career

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2022–2023 season

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Alipio made her debut for the UCLA Bruins on January 7, 2023 at the Super 16 Invitational.[19]

Regular season rankings

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Season All-Around Vault Uneven Bars Balance Beam Floor Exercise
2023 N/A N/A N/A 102nd N/A
2024 N/A N/A N/A 243rd N/A

Competitive History

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Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2017 American Classic 11 19 18 9 4
U.S. Classic 16 16 42 8 10
U.S. National Championships 21 18 15 15 28
2018 American Classic 9 7 16 22 10
U.S. Classic 17 21 35 4 12
U.S. National Championships 16 8 22   15
2019 City of Jesolo Trophy   8    
Jr. World Championships Trials 5
American Classic   9     19
U.S. Classic 5 10 11   11
U.S. National Championships 6 13 10   11
Senior
2021 Winter Cup 6 16 9 15 6
American Classic 9 8 16
U.S. Classic 19 36 21
U.S. National Championships 22 21 9 25
Arthur Gander Memorial  
2022 Winter Cup 16 11 17 19
U.S. Classic 9 11 12 6
U.S. National Championships 17 18   18
NCAA
2023 PAC-12 Championships   29

References

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  1. ^ "Ciena Alipio". USA Gymnastics.
  2. ^ @usagym (November 29, 2021). "November was a busy month for National Team member Ciena Alipio" – via Instagram.
  3. ^ "2016 Hopes Classic Results". The Gymternet. May 16, 2016.
  4. ^ "2017 Brestyan's National Qualifier Results". The Gymternet. February 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "2017 American Classic Results". The Gymternet. July 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "2017 U.S. Classic Results". The Gymternet. July 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "2017 U.S. Championships Results". The Gymternet. August 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "American Classic Hopes Classic Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. July 7, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  9. ^ "2018 GK U.S. Classic Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. July 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "2018 U.S. Championships - Women Day 2 Meet Results - Multi" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. August 19, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  11. ^ "USA Gymnastics announces women's spring international team assignments". USA Gymnastics. February 24, 2019. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "USA wins senior team title at 2019 Jesolo Trophy, captures 14 other medals". USA Gymnastics. March 3, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "2019 U.S. Junior Worlds Trials Results". The Gymternet. June 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "2019 American Classic Results". The Gymternet. June 22, 2019.
  15. ^ "Biles, McClain win all-around titles at 2019 GK U.S. Classic". USA Gymnastics. July 20, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  16. ^ "Alipio, Greaves, Moldauer set to represent the U.S. in Switzerland this week". USA Gymnastics. November 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Angelina Melnikova continues golden 2021 with victory in Morges". International Olympic Committee. November 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "McClain reigns at the 2022 OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 21, 2022.
  19. ^ "Gallery: No. 10 UCLA gymnastics kicks off season at Super 16". Daily Bruin. January 9, 2023.
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