A gymnast from Southern Connecticut State Universityย died following a training accidentย on Friday (November 8).ย Melanie Coleman, 20, was performing a โroutine training exerciseโ on the uneven bars when she lost her balance and fell. She suffered an upper-body injury and was rushed to the hospital, where she died two days later.
Coleman was a junior andย studying to become a nurse. She was an outstanding athlete earning recognition as an All-American Scholar-Athlete by USA Gymnastics and named a Scholastic All-American by Womenโs Collegiate Gymnastics Association.
โThis has been devastating to her coaches and teammates and we hope to support them in this very difficult time,โย SCSUโs Director of Athleticsย Jay Moranย said. โMelanie was a very bright student, an excellent athlete and involved member of the Southern Connecticut community. The entire Southern athletics family is greatly saddened by her loss.โ
Photo: Southern Connecticut State University