STANFORD, Calif. – Few athletes attract attention during practice or warmups, especially from the opposition. But when Steph Curry jogs onto the court or Tiger Woods arrives at the range, heads turn.
In the world of college gymnastics, Elizabeth Price causes a similar stir.
Teammates do double-takes at weekly workouts, marveling at her seemingly effortless athleticism, power and grace. At every meet, anticipation builds when she prepares to compete in one of her four events.
Price seldom disappoints.
The senior from Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, has already scored two 10s this season for Stanford and three during her career. She is the only gymnast in program history to achieve perfection in three events: vault, uneven bars and floor exercise.
According to NCAA records, fewer than 10 women have recorded perfect scores in four events. Price could join the list by mastering the balance beam in her final home meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Maples Pavilion against No. 2 UCLA, or during the Pac-12 Championships and postseason.
All three 10's have come at Maples.
In her senior season, @elizabeth_ebee leads her team to a season-high performance with a conference best 39.675 AA and perfect 10 on floor! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/HXX4pdkKEA
— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordWGym) February 20, 2018
Price was 16 the last time her entire family came to Stanford and all will attend Sunday.
"That will be cool to have everyone in the stands for my last hurrah," said Price.
Price leaves a lasting legacy at a place where impressing is difficult. Although she hasn't generated the fanfare of Cardinal greats Andrew Luck and Katie Ledecky, head coach Tabitha Yim thinks Price belongs in the conversation.
"She's at that level," said Yim, a 14-time All-American for the Cardinal, the most in program history. "I think the legacy she leaves is not just Stanford, it's the impact on NCAA gymnastics. We've never had an athlete as dynamic. Her skill level is so much bigger than anyone around her."
Only four NCAA women's gymnasts have recorded perfect marks this season..
Price registered 10 on bars in the season-opening NorCal Classic and on floor against Cal.
"I hoped I would go out there and hit a lot of really good routines, but I never thought I'd already be able to say I've scored two perfect 10s," the humble Price said of the season.
She received two other perfect scores on vault this season.
"When you do a routine that you know is good and see a 10 flash, it's like, 'Oh my gosh, it was as a good as I thought it was,' '' she said. "Knowing the judges thought your routine was perfect is kind of crazy. A lot of factors come into play that as an athlete you can't control."
The lone senior on a 13-member team that includes nine underclassmen, the dependable Price has been a rock. Through nine meets, she has won 25 golds and tallied 21 scores of 9.900 or higher. Along with the 10s, Price has three 9.975's and four 9.950's.
Nationally, she ranks No. 2 on vault and all-around, and No. 3 on bars and floor exercise.
Although fatigue is a concern for all-around competitors, Price has missed only two rotations. Friday night in Elevate the Stage at Augusta, Georgia, she posted 9.900 or better in every event despite arriving the night before. Price also captured the all-around title for the sixth time this season.
"What impresses me is that week in and week out, she's doing the highest level of difficulty in every event," Yim said.
In 2014, Yim was an assistant coach at Stanford and helped recruit Price. She could have gone anywhere and visited Alabama, where football coach Nick Saban invited her into his office and let her wear his national championships rings.
"Their coach sent us a picture and said, 'You better step up your game,' '' said Yim.
Price met with Professor Condoleezza Rice, head football coach David Shaw and his wife, Kori, and went to a science lab.
"I had heard all about Stanford but didn't know what to expect," Price said. "I knew I was going to be the only one (recruit) in my class and that made me a little nervous. But it helped me become more adaptable and grow as person. I don't regret coming here because of all the things I've learned and what I will do after I graduate."
Price was an alternate for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, finishing fourth on bars and all-around at the Olympic Trials. She could have bypassed college and continued to train and compete with the U.S. Senior National team, virtually assuring a spot on the 2016 team. But Price needed a change, valued academics and had always dreamed of experiencing college life.
The adjustment wasn't as easy as she expected. For starters, she was rehabbing an injury. Additionally, many of her new teammates didn't have international experience. Price assumed she could stay up late to study and do whatever she wanted, but quickly discovered otherwise.
"It took me a while to figure out that because I'm on a team, I have to make sacrifices as opposed to just doing what makes me happy," she said. "It took me a while to settle in."
During her freshman season, Price won the NCAA vault title, was named a first team All-American on vault and bars, and was selected Pac-12 Specialist of the Year. As a sophomore, she earned All-America honors in all-around, vault, bars and beam and was picked Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year.
Battling through injuries, Price has produced 82 individual victories entering Sunday's meet.
Associate head coach Chris Swirceck, now in his 15th year on The Farm, said Price was polished from Day One.
"It was like putting pinstripes on a Porsche," he said.
As a sophomore, Price took on a leadership role but didn't fully understand it. As senior captain, she does now.
"I try to be a good role model and be there for all of my teammates," she said. "You can't force things. It came with being around a team atmosphere and understanding what it takes to reach our goals. I'd like to think I've contributed to their success and growth, in and out of the gym. It's been really rewarding to see them respond the way they have."
Six teammates are true freshmen.
"I feel very positive about how the season has gone so far," said Price. "We've asked them to fill a lot of big roles and they have all stepped up. We've had a lot of injuries, but have embraced those challenges and overcome the adversity that comes with having such a young team."
Price has never lacked motivation.
"For me, it comes from inside," she said. "I set big goals for myself and the team. I know I need to be hitting my best routines at every meet to help our team. That drives me in the gym."
Price will graduate in June with a degree in biomechanical engineering. She wants to help design affordable medical devices for underserved countries.
"That's definitely my end goal … helping the world," she said. "It takes baby steps to get there. I'm trying to figure out what those next steps will be."
Price is excited for spring quarter. It will mark the first time since age 3 that she won't be in a gym.
"I'm looking forward to experiencing life as a non-student athlete," said Price. "It's going to be weird. I might try some intramural sports, take dancing classes, dorm trips … there are a lot of things I'm looking forward to trying."
First, she has more work to do in the gym.
"I'm trying to make every meet a great one and remember every moment," said Price. "I also want to leave everything out there on the floor for my teammates and generations to come. I won't experience this camaraderie again and it's something I'm really thankful for."