Norah Flatley
{{Short description|American artistic gymnast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name = Norah Flatley
| image = Norah Flatley 2014.JPG
| size =
| caption = Flatley at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Jesolo, Italy
| country = {{USA}}
| fullname = Norah Irene Flatley
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|3|10}}
| birth_place = San Diego, California, United States
| height = 150cm
| discipline = WAG
| natlteam = 2013–15 (USA)
| club = Chow's Gymnastics
| headcoach = Jordyn Wieber
| assistcoach =
| collegeteam = UCLA Bruins (2019–22)
Arkansas Razorbacks (2023)
| choreographer = Dominic Zito
BJ Das
| show-medals = true
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|Pacific Rim Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2014 Richmond|Team}}
{{MedalGold|2014 Richmond|Balance Beam}}
{{MedalCountry | UCLA Bruins }}
{{MedalCompetition|NCAA Championships}}
{{MedalBronze|2019 Fort Worth|Team}}
| retired = July 21, 2017 (elite)
| formercoach = Liang Chow
Valorie Kondos Field
Randy Lane
Chris Waller
}}
Norah Irene Flatley (born March 10, 2000, in San Diego, California) is an American artistic gymnast.{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=241861|title=USA Gymnastics {{!}} Norah Flatley|website=usagym.org|access-date=April 27, 2019}} She is the 2014 Pacific Rim junior balance beam champion. She previously competed for the UCLA Bruins and also competed for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Early life
Norah Flatley was born on March 10, 2000, in San Diego to Terrence Flatley and Ann McKenzie. She is the youngest of four children.
One of Flatley's sisters, Anna, was a competitive gymnast,{{cite web|url=http://www.mymeetscores.com/gymnast.pl?gymnastid=175848 |title=Anna Flatley, Salto Gymnastics |publisher=MyMeetScores.com |date= |accessdate=2022-09-16}} and at the age of four Flatley wanted to join her. She enrolled in gymnastics classes at Salto Gymnastics in Wisconsin. Naturally gifted, Flatley made both the 2007 and 2009 National TOPs teams.[https://usagym.org/PDFs/Women/TOPs/History/2007_TOPS-National_Team.pdf 2009 Tops National Team] usagym.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805212040/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Women/TOPs/History/2007_TOPS-National_Team.pdf |date=August 5, 2016 }}[https://usagym.org/PDFs/Women/TOPs/History/2009_TOPS-National_Team.pdf 2009 Tops National Team] usagym.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805224738/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Women/TOPs/History/2009_TOPS-National_Team.pdf |date=August 5, 2016 }} In 2010, Flatley was both Level 8 State (WI) and Regional (4) champion for her age category.{{cite web|url=http://www.mymeetscores.com/meet.pl?meetid=16063816&pb=N&session=All%20Sessions%20Combined&level=8&division=10%26under&gymnastid=241861 |title=2010 Wisconsin Level 7, 8, 9, 10 State Championships |publisher=MyMeetScores.com |date= |accessdate=2022-09-16}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mymeetscores.com/meet.pl?meetid=16063848&pb=N&session=Multiple%20Sessions%20Combined&level=8&division=Super8Jr&gymnastid=241861 |title=2010 Region IV Level 8, 9, 10 Championships |publisher=MyMeetScores.com |date= |accessdate=2022-09-16}} In the summer of 2010 her family relocated to Cumming, Iowa, in order for her to train under the tutelage of Liang Chow, the former coach of 2008 Olympic balance beam champion Shawn Johnson.{{cite web | url=http://www.gymnastike.org/coverage/251400-2014-City-of-Jesolo-Cup/blog/47131-2016-Olympic-Hopeful-Norah-Flatley-Set-for-International-Debut | title=Gymnastics | Videos, News & Articles - FloGymnastics }} A year later, in 2011, she was crowned Level 9 Regional Champion.{{cite web|url=http://www.mymeetscores.com/meet.pl?meetid=16065106&session=Multiple%20Sessions%20Combined&level=9&division=9JRA&gymnastid=241861 |title=2011 Region 4 Level 8, 9, 10 Championships |publisher=MyMeetScores.com |date= |accessdate=2022-09-16}} At her first Level 9 Western Championships – at the age of eleven, Flatley was crowned the individual champion in the all-around, on beam and floor.{{cite web | url=https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_11western_jrind.htm | title=Level 9 Western Championships 2011 - Meet Results }}
Gymnastics career
= Level 10: 2012 =
Flatley moved up to Level 10 for the 2012 competitive season. She was State champion,{{cite web|url=http://www.mymeetscores.com/meet.pl?meetid=16066218&session=4&level=10&division=11-12&gymnastid=241861 |title=2012 Iowa Optional State Meet |publisher=MyMeetScores.com |date=2012-03-31 |access-date=2022-09-16}} and was second at Regionals.{{cite web|url=http://www.mymeetscores.com/meet.pl?meetid=16066251&session=1&level=10&division=JuniorA&gymnastid=241861 |title=2012 Region 4 Championships |publisher=MyMeetScores.com |date= |access-date=2022-09-16}} In May, she participated in her first ever J.O. Nationals – held in Hampton, Virginia.{{cite web | url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10052&prog=h | title=USA's top Level 10 gymnasts head to Hampton, Va., to compete in the Junior Olympic National Championships }} She tied for third in the all-around with Chow's club teammate Alexis Vasquez, and Southeastern gymnast Grace Glenn.[https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12jo_jra.pdf Results] usagym.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025124933/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12jo_jra.pdf |date=October 25, 2015 }} However, she won the balance beam title with a score of 9.725.{{cite web | url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10078&prog=h | title=Champions Named at Women's Junior Olympic National Championships }}
= Junior elite: 2013–2015 =
Flatley qualified to Junior International Elite status in 2013. She qualified to the 2013 U.S. Classic in Chicago and placed fourth in the all-around and won gold on balance beam. Flatley scored the highest balance beam score (15.2) of the meet within both senior and junior divisions.{{cite web |url=https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_13classic_jr.pdf |title=2013 Secret U.S. Classic Meet Results |author= |date=July 27, 2013 |work=USA Gymnastics}} At the 2013 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, Flatley accumulated a two-day all-around score of 112.400, placing fifth overall. She won silver on balance beam behind Bailie Key.{{cite web |url=https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_13champs_jr2events.pdf|title=2013 P&G Championships - Women Day 2 |author= |date=August 17, 2013 |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=USA Gymnastics |access-date=July 18, 2014}} As a result she was named to the junior national team.
File:Norah Flatley beam 2014.JPG]]
Flatley made her international debut at the 2014 City of Jesolo Trophy competition in Jesolo, Italy. She helped team USA win gold. Individually she placed third in the all-around behind Bailie Key and Nia Dennis and won gold on balance beam. She next competed at the Pacific Rim Championships in April in Richmond, Canada. While there she won team gold and gold on the balance beam. At the 2014 U.S. Classic Flatley placed third in the all-around, tied with Deanne Soza and behind Jordan Chiles and Dennis.{{cite web|url=https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_14classic_jr.pdf|title=2014 Secret U.S. Classic |author= |date=August 2, 2014 |work=USA Gymnastics}} In August Flately competed at the National Championships. She finished third in the all-around behind Jazmyn Foberg and Dennis. Additionally she won silver on the uneven bars behind Foberg and placed fourth on balance beam.{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=14790|title=Foberg claims first U.S. junior title|date=August 23, 2014|work=USA Gymnastics}}
Flatley competed her last year as a Junior International Elite in the 2015 season. At the 2015 City of Jesolo Trophy she helped the USA finish first as a team. Individually she won gold on balance beam and silver in the all-around and on the uneven bars, behind Laurie Hernandez on each. Due to a foot injury, Flatley missed the U.S. Classic and the U.S. National Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2015/08/10/norah-flatley-pg-championships-usa-gymnastics-liang-chow/31421931/|title=Sore foot keeps Norah Flatley out of P&G Championships|work=Des Moines Register|date=August 10, 2015|first=Andrew|last=Logue}}
On October 7, 2015, Flately announced her verbal commitment to the UCLA Bruins gymnastics program, through her Instagram account.
= Retirement from elite: 2016–2017 =
Flatley was set for her Senior International debut in 2016 but withdrew from all competitions for reason of injury. On July 21, 2017, she announced her retirement from elite gymnastics and announced plans to move down to Level 10 for the 2018 season.{{cite web | url=https://thegymter.net/2017/07/21/flatley-ends-elite-career/ | title=Flatley Ends Elite Career | date=July 21, 2017 }}
Collegiate gymnastics career
= 2018–2019 season =
In the fall of 2018, Flatley began attending the University of California, Los Angeles, joining the gymnastics team.
Flatley competed on uneven bars and balance beam in every meet of her freshman season. She was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on February 26.{{cite web |title=Norah Flatley - Gymnastics |url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/roster/norah-flatley/10941 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=UCLA |language=en}} She helped her team to a third-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Championships, contributing scores on beam and bars of 9.8875{{cite tweet|number=1119745610356338689|user=uclagymnastics|title=Looking to drop a 9.665, and freshman @norah_flatley comes through with a stuck landing and a 9.8875!#NCAAGym | #GoBruins |access-date=October 4, 2019|language=en|date=April 20, 2019}} and 9.9 respectively.{{cite tweet|number=1119763494935695361|user=uclagymnastics|title=Big day for @norah_flatley, and she is FIRED UP! Another stuck dismount and a 9.9! |access-date=October 4, 2019|language=en|date=April 20, 2019}}
= 2019–2020 season =
Flatley regularly contributed to the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise lineups before the season got cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
= 2020–2021 season =
While warming up for UCLA's season-opening meet against Arizona State, Flatley suffered an ankle injury that kept her out of competition until the postseason. She returned to the uneven bars lineup at the Pac-12 Championship, scoring 9.875. She competed uneven bars and balance beam at the regional championships, but UCLA failed to qualify to nationals.{{cite web |title=Schedule |url=https://roadtonationals.com/results/schedule/meet/26598 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=roadtonationals.com}}
= 2021–2022 season =
Fully recovered from the previous season's ankle injury, Flatley competed in at least three events during every meet of the regular season, including six times in the all-around.{{cite web |title=Teams |url=https://roadtonationals.com/results/teams/gymnast/2022/66/30122 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=roadtonationals.com}}
At the regional finals, Flatley competed only on the vault and uneven bars, citing mental health reasons.{{cite web |title=UCLA gymnast Norah Flatley prioritizes mental health at NCAA Raleigh Regional |url=https://dailybruin.com/2022/04/06/ucla-gymnast-norah-flatley-prioritizes-mental-health-at-ncaa-raleigh-regional/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=Daily Bruin}} UCLA again failed to qualify to the national championships as a team, finishing just 0.025 points behind the second-place qualifying Missouri Tigers. However, Flatley's all-around score of 39.575 from the regional semifinals qualified her to nationals as an individual in the all-around.{{cite web |title=Gymnasts Jordan Chiles, Norah Flatley to compete for individual NCAA titles |url=https://dailybruin.com/2022/04/13/gymnasts-jordan-chiles-norah-flatley-to-compete-for-individual-ncaa-titles/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=Daily Bruin}}
At the national championships, Flatley placed seventh in the all-around with a score of 39.6 and fourth on the balance beam with a score of 9.9375.{{cite web |date=April 15, 2022 |title=Norah Flatley finishes UCLA career with fourth on beam at NCAA championships |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2022-04-14/norah-flatley-final-beam-ucla-ncaa-gymnastics-championships |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
= 2022–2023 season =
Following the 2022 National Championships it was reported by gymnastics podcast GymCastic that Flatley, who has a fifth year of NCAA eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had entered the transfer portal.{{cite web |date=April 19, 2022 |title=NCAA Championships: A Victory for Execution (and Curses) |url=https://gymcastic.com/ncaa-championships-a-victory-for-execution-and-curses/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=GymCastic |language=en-US}} On May 31, 2022 it was announced that Flately would be joining the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team, reuniting with former UCLA teammate Kyla Ross, as assistant coach for the team.{{cite instagram|postid=CeO4ih2PZcE|user=razorbackgym|date=May 31, 2022|title=An encore in Arkansas. 🐗}}
Flatley made her debut for Arkansas on January 7, 2023 in a meet against Nebraska. Flatley competed on vault, uneven bars, and balance beam towards Arkansas' victory. Individually Flatley posted the highest score on uneven bars and co-highest score on vault.{{cite web|url=https://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2023/jan/08/arkansas-wins-opener-in-nebraska/|title=Arkansas wins opener in Nebraska|date=January 8, 2023|work=Whole Hog Sports}}
Following the 2023 SEC Championship, she was awarded All-SEC honours on vault, floor and all-around.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Five Gymbacks Receive All SEC Honors |url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/five-gymbacks-receive-all-sec-honors/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Arkansas Razorbacks |language=en-US}}
= Regular season ranking =
class="wikitable" | |||||
Season
!All-Around !Vault !Uneven Bars !Balance Beam !Floor Exercise | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | N/A | N/A | 14th | 32nd | N/A |
2020 | N/A | N/A | 80th | 36th | 245th |
2021 | colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | N/A | ||||
2022{{cite web |title=Standings |url=https://roadtonationals.com/results/standings/season/2022/11/1/5 |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=roadtonationals.com}} | 33rd | 129th | 24th | 116th | 80th |
2023 | N/A | 103rd | 35th | 33rd | N/A |
Personal life
Flatley has been in a relationship with Atlanta United FC soccer player Justin Garces since November 2018.{{Cite instagram|date=November 24, 2021 |title=3 years with my best friend|postid=CWrje7RJlEN|user=garces_justin}}