Career
Katie quickly rose to the elite level in 1997, at the age of 11. She competed in her first national championships in 1998 and placed sixth on beam in the junior division. She sat out the 1999 season due to an injury, but came back in 2000 to place fourth on bars and ninth in the all around at the junior national United States. Championships.
Katie burst into the senior elite spotlight by coming in fourth in the all around and first on bars at United States. Classic.
At the United States. National Championships, she continued her success by placing sixth in the all around and first on bars. Katie earned a spot on the 2001 United States. world championship team and helped the team earn a bronze medal, the first medal since 1995.
She then went on to earn a bronze medal on bars, ending the individual medal drought for the United States.
A string of injuries hampered her in 2002 and 2003. She did manage to compete in the 2003 nationals, coming in 7th place, however injuries kept her out of the international scene.
An injury during the trials prevented her from finishing but she was asked to become the athlete representative at the final Olympic selection camp.
Katie received a full scholarship with the Georgia Gym Dogs, and throughout her time at the university, stood out as a great all arounder. In 2007, Katie was named Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year and made All-Securities and Exchange Commission first team Heenan also tied for first in the all-around with follow Gym Dog Courtney Kupets at the Securities and Exchange Commission Championship.