Defying gravity: A look back at Marny Oestreng’s historic leap for BGSU Gymnastics
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Oestreng was the University’s first gymnast to reach the national championship
By Laren Kowalczyk ‘07
Bowling Green State University alumna and decorated gymnast Marny Oestreng ‘02 occasionally rewatches the video of her 1999 NCAA title-winning floor exercise with her daughter, who is following in her footsteps.
The grainy, somewhat shaky recording ends with the beaming BGSU freshman proudly hoisting the first-place award above her head.
“It’s a lot of fun to look back on that memory and share it with my daughter,” she said. “She admires what I accomplished and says she hopes to do the same one day. It was such a great moment and an honor to represent BGSU on the national stage.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Oestreng’s national championship performance, which etched her place in BGSU Athletics history.
Oestreng was the first BGSU gymnast to reach the national championship and the third individual athlete in the University’s history to win an NCAA title. She still holds the BGSU record in the all-around and is tied for the record in floor exercise, uneven bars and vault.
BGSU Head Gymnastics Coach Kerrie Turner said she reflects on Oestreng’s NCAA championship with her team every year to emphasize the incredible accomplishment and the hard work it took for her to get there.
“Winning an NCAA gymnastics championship is an incredibly challenging task, especially when no one has paved the way for such a historic win,” Turner said. “What Marny Oestreng did that day reminds every student-athlete in our program that anything is possible if you are willing to dream beyond what has already been accomplished, have an incredible work ethic and ultimately believe in yourself.”
Marny Oestreng's accomplished gymnastics career at BGSU led to her induction into the University's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
Before winning the NCAA championship as a freshman, the Norwegian was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and Gymnast of the Year.
Her dominating run continued in her sophomore year when she captured the MAC title in the all-around and vault.
As a senior, Oestreng led the Falcons to one of the best regular season records in school history at 17-1, while tying for first place in the MAC Championship in the all-around and floor exercise. She earned MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year in 2002.
Oestreng was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
In addition to her success at BGSU, Oestreng competed in the European Championships five times and the World Gymnastics Championships twice and won over 10 Norwegian titles.
Oestreng owns a consulting firm in Norway that assists businesses in adapting to a lean model by improving operational efficiencies and strategies, using her bachelor’s degree in business administration and experience as a student-athlete to guide her.
“I loved my time at BGSU,” she said. “I have very fond memories of my friends and teammates and am proud of my accomplishments as a student-athlete at BGSU.”
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Media Contact | Michael Bratton | mbratto@bgsu.edu | 419-372-6349
Updated: 07/22/2024 09:00AM