Cardinal Competes at Czech Grand PrixCardinal Competes at Czech Grand Prix
Men's Gymnastics

Cardinal Competes at Czech Grand Prix

Taylor Burkhart and alum Ian Gunther finish 1-2 at 2024 Sokol Grand Prix in mixed pairs event

BRNO, Czech Republic - Three current and former Stanford gymnasts competed overseas at the 2024 Sokol Grand Prix, earning a 1-2 finish in the mixed pairs event on Saturday. Colt Walker also made an appearance in the meet, finishing sixth. 

The event was a mixed pairing event consisting of 12 teams. Eight pairs advanced to the second round after two events, before four teams competed for podium spots in the final round.

Senior Taylor Burkhart earned the gold medal in the event alongside partner Gabrielle Black (Canada). Burkhart posted a 13.650 high bar routine in the finals while Black posted a two-score average of 13.583 on vault to lead the tandem to the meet win with a score of 27.233. 

Burkhart scored 12.600 on high bar and 13.500 on pommel horse in the opening round of qualifications before turning in a 13.950 parallel bars routine in qualification round two en route to the finals. 

Alum Ian Gunther finished just behind in second with a final score of 27.183 with the Czech Republic's Vanessa Masova. Gunther elected to compete on still rings in the final, scoring a 13.950. He also scored a 13.950 on parallel bars in the second qualification round, while his opening round performances were highlighted by a 13.750 still rings performance and a 12.400 high bar routine.

Colt Walker scored a 14.850 on parallel bars and 13.750 on floor to lead himself and his partner Denelle Pedrick (Canada) to the highest point total in the opening round of qualifications. Walker scored a 13.250 on pommel horse in the second round, but it was not enough as the duo finished sixth and was eliminated before the finals. 

Full scorecards of all three rounds of the 2024 Sokol Grand Prix can be found here. Stanford begins its 2025 season on Monday, January 13 at the Cal Benefit Cup.