Abby Kenney of UB Gymnastics Selected as Nominee for Renowned AAI Award
Presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding senior collegiate gymnast, widely regarded as the Heisman Trophy of women’s gymnastics.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - In the midst of a stellar senior season, Abby Kenney of the University of Bridgeport's gymnastics team has been named one of just 45 nominees across all Divisions for the 2026 AAI Award. The honor is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding senior women's collegiate gymnast and is widely regarded as the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics.
Throughout an extraordinary career with the UB gymnastics program, Kenney has solidified her place as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in recent history—excelling both in competition and in the classroom. Most recently in 2026, she has been named Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 28), set a new career high on bars (9.825) and matched personal bests in the all-around (39.150), vault (9.850) and floor (9.875).
Kenney's junior campaign proved to be a historic one as she was named the WCGA Division II Co-Gymnast of the Year, cementing her status among the nation's elite. She earned WCGA Regular Season All-America honors in the all-around (Second Team) while also collecting WCGNIC First Team All-America accolades on floor, beam and bars. Her dominance across all four events made her one of the most versatile and consistent performers in the country.
As a sophomore, Kenney was already building her national resume. She garnered first-team All-America recognition on vault and second-team honors on beam from USAG, while also being named a WCGA second-team All-American in the all-around.
Over the last two years alone, Kenney has amassed nine All-GEC selections, highlighted by back-to-back First Team honors in the all-around. Her career-best marks reflect her excellence: a 9.850 on vault, 9.825 on bars, 9.875 on beam, 9.875 on floor and a stellar 39.150 in the all-around—scores that place her among Bridgeport's all-time standouts.
Kenney's success has extended well beyond competition. A model student-athlete, she was named a Third Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) last year and is a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree. She has also earned GEC Scholar-Athlete recognition for three consecutive years and collected back-to-back D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards.
Kenney's full AAI Award nomination can be found HERE.
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