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04/29/2013
Paul, Weinstein Receive Top Honor at Scholar-Athlete Reception
Basketball, Gymnastics Standouts Take Home Prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor
04/19/2013
Weinstein Advances to Floor Final, Illini Finish 11th in Country
Weinstein tied for first on floor with a 9.9
04/17/2013
NCAA Championships Await #16 Illini
Illinois reaching NCAA's for third time in past five years
04/06/2013
Illini Earn 3rd Ever Trip to NCAA Championships
Illinois finishes second in Regionals with a 196.025
04/03/2013
#17 Illini Ready for Morgantown Regional
Illinois looking to qualify for third NCAA Championships
Freshman - 2013: Tied for 11th place in the all-around (39.1) in Session I at the NCAA Championships ... Made the all-around podium at the Morgantown Regional, tying for sixth place with a 39.175 ... Set a career high of 9.9 on floor at the Big Ten Championships ... In the same weekend, O'Connor set a new career high in the all-around (39.275) at Missouri, then hit that same mark two days later on Senior Day ... EarnedSecond-Team All-Big Ten laurels ... Second Illini ever to win Big Ten Freshmen of the Week twice in a single season ...Most Consistent Beam award winner... Competed in the all-around in all 14 meets, scoring at least a 39.1 in the last seven of eight ... Captured two individual event titles, both on beam ... Also set career highs of 9.85 on vault, 9.825 on bars and 9.85 on beam.
High School/Club: Won first on bars in 2011 at State ... Won first on floor, second on bars and the all-around and third on beam at State in 2010 ...Three-time National qualifier (2006, 2007, 2010)... Took third on beam in Nationals in 2010 ... Took third on floor in Nationals in 2007... Made A honor roll all four years and graduated in top ten percent of her class ... Was awarded the Gold National Career Readiness Certificate ... Competed or Gymkhana/GymNasti ... Coached by Ron Nasti.
Personal: Daughter of Gina and Mike O'Connor ... has one sister Genna, 17 ... Majoring in Business Finance ... Chose Illinois because, "It has one of the best business schools in the Big Ten, it was close to home and has a great athletic program."
Giana's Career Highs
Vault: 9.85- (at State of Illinois Classic, 3/16/13)
Bars: 9.825- (at Missouri, 3/8/13)
Beam: 9.85- (3x, last vs. Ball State & UIC, 3/10/13)
Floor:9.9 - (at Big Ten Championships, 3/23/13)
All-Around:39.275 - (twice, last vs. Ball State & UIC, 3/10/13)
Individual Titles
Beam: 2
Total: 2
The O'Connor File
My best memory as an Illini: My official visit during homecoming weekend!
Being a Fighting Illini means: Being part of a great tradition
First impression when you met your team, has it changed: Very nice, helpful and a lot of fun. No it has not changed.
Favorite event: Floor
Favorite floor music: 300 violin Orchestra
Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Favorite activity outside gymnastics: Cheerleading
Favorite road trip item/activity: Watching movies or reading books
Favorite place to eat on campus: Panera
Favorite tailgating activity: Playing bags
Favorite Fierce Five Gymnast: Jordyn Weiber
Favorite all-time gymnast: Shawn Johnson
Favorite sports team: Chicago Bears
Favorite movie: Benchwarmers
Favorite movie quote: "Let's capture the dream." -Blades of Glory
Favorite TV show: CSI: Miami
Favorite place to travel to for a meet: Florida
Pre-meet superstitions: Listen to music
Plans after Illinois: Get a job in business finance
Met anyone famous?: Jonathan Horton
A word that describes you that starts with the same letter as your first name: Giggly
Song you're embarrassed to liking right now: Heisman Part Two
One thing you've dreamt about doing: Owning a speed boat and a lake house
If the gymnastics team were to get their own reality show, what would be the name of it: Chalk Talk
If you could perform one of your routines anywhere on campus, where would you go? Memorial Stadium
What movie role would you like to act in: Dancer
Actress I would want to play me in a movie about my life: Sandra Bullock
One thing I can't go a day without: Gum
