Southeast Missouri State University gymnast Margaret O'Neal performed a new skill called "The O'Neal" during the 2009 National Junior Olympic Championship, which is an annual event that features some of the best gymnasts in the nation.
"It's a release on high bar, and I let go of the high bar and do one flip with a full twist and re-grab the bar," O'Neal said about the skill.
After performing the skill on bars and receiving the highest score, O'Neal's skill was listed in the International Book of Code for Gymnastics.
"It was a really big accomplishment and pretty nerve wracking because you have to not only train the skill and be able to do it, but you have to qualify to nationals," O'Neal said. "So there was the added stress of getting to nationals and successfully doing it at nationals."
Southeast gymnastics coach Kristi Ewasko said that having a skill named after an athlete is rare, especially when most skills are named after Russians or Romanians. It's a rarity for Americans.
In order to name a skill in the sport of gymnastics, athletes have to be the first to complete it in competition, depending on which level they're in.
"I competed it at a level 10 my senior year," O'Neal said. "My skill will be there forever."
In gymnastics, there are levels ranging from 1-10, starting from basics to the elite level. Gymnasts must reach a minimum score in competition to move to the next level. In order to compete in nationals for women, they must be at levels 9 or 10.
"I've been doing gymnastics for 18 years, since I was 4," O'Neal said. "I had a really good coach who was able to really understand me as an athlete and really able to push me beyond anything I thought I was capable of doing. He was the reason why I got to the level I was at."
When it comes to the scoring system, it can be tricky, but according to usagym.org, there are six judges. One jury determines the start value of each routine while another jury evaluates a routine based on execution, technique and artistry and tallies points and deductions. The highest and lowest judges' scores drop while the remaining four average and subtract from the start value. That's how to reach the gymnast's score and the highest attainable score for a routine is 10.
"My skill is a little bit difficult because it leads to what's called an 'empty swing,' so it can actually lead to a deduction," O'Neal said. "But it's there if anybody decides they want to do it."
Although having a skill named after her own last name is cool, O'Neal also said that education and being able to have the opportunity to do gymnastics is important.
"When I came here and met the girls, I just really liked their personalities and where they wanted the program to go," O'Neal said. "They had really strong academics, and my family has always stressed that education comes first. It's really another opportunity for me to continue to grow. I love my teammates, they're great, really supportive, fun to be around, so I really enjoy that experience."
In Southeast's recent Midwest Independent Conference championship meet in Shreveport, La., O'Neal scored a 9.750 on uneven bars.
"Margaret is a spitfire," Ewasko said. "She's going to do whatever she can, as well as she can. She's the type of athlete that you want."
O'Neal finished the season with an average of 9.466 in vault and a career-high score of 9.750. She also had an average of 9.582 on bars and a career-high score of 9.875.
O'Neal was among one of four seniors along with Taylor Westrick, Angela Serafini and Emma Garrett honored in their last home meet on March 8. The Redhawks finished with an overall record of 5-7.
