Gym Dog finishes in style

LINCOLN, Neb. --- Courtney Kupets ended her collegiate gymnastics career just the way she intended.

With a bang.

The Georgia gymnast and 2004 U.S. Olympian won three event titles Saturday at Bob Devaney Sports Center, making her the NCAA's all-time winningest champion with nine individual titles. She surpassed Kentucky's Jenny Hansen's eight titles from 1993-95.

Kupets also became the first collegiate gymnast to win a title on every event. She was missing just the floor exercise title, but captured that when she and Louisiana State University's Ashleigh Clare-Kearney tied with a 9.95 to share the title.

"There's no question she's the greatest college gymnast of all-time," said Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan. "She's the Mohammed Ali of gymnastics. The greatest."

Behind a 39.800 performance on Thursday night, Kupets won the all-around title for the third time. She has never lost an all-around title on the national stage. Last season, she wasn't able to compete due to an Achilles tendon tear.

Kupets had a hard time hearing her coach say that she was the best collegiate gymnast.

"I don't really believe that because, I don't know, I just do what I do and I love it," she said. "It's kind of crazy for someone to say that about me. It's really an honor. I just don't believe that people would think that about me. I just have fun with what I do."

The 22-year-old competed on all four events for the third consecutive day.

"The mental strength behind that, I have never witnessed that in 26 years," Yoculan said.

Reach Jennifer Iannone at jennifer.iannone@onlineathens.com.