SALT LAKE CITY—A documentary chronicling the rise of the Utah gymnastics program to national prominence and record-setting crowds will premiere on PBS station KUED on Monday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. MT. It will replay on KUED on Friday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m.
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Utah Gymnastics: Red Rocks Retrospective, produced by KUED's Joe Prokop, tells the amazing story of the Red Rocks, Salt Lake City's beloved 10-time national champion women's gymnastics program.
Red Rocks Retrospective features archival footage and interviews with current and former Ute coaches, gymnasts and others in showing the making of a dynasty, from its humble beginnings in the physical education facility to competing before crowds of 15,000 in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
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With the passage of Title IX in 1972 that granted women equal rights in higher education, the University of Utah expanded opportunities for women in athletics. In 1975, the university approached Greg Marsden, a graduate student from Arkansas and former college diver, about establishing a women's gymnastics program.
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Given a space in a gym shared with intramural basketball and P.E. classes, Marsden set to work posting fliers across campus to recruit his first women's gymnastics team. From that inauspicious beginning, he went on to create one of the most successful college athletic programs of all time—winning 10 national championships and producing more All-Americans than any other gymnastics program.
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Over the course of his 40-year coaching career, Marsden led the Utes to 10 national titles, set attendance records and inspired academic excellence among his gymnasts. Marsden's legacy continues today under current co-head coaches
Megan Marsden and
Tom Farden, and Utah remains the only gymnastics team to qualify for every NCAA Championship.
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Airdates:
Mon. Feb. 11, 8:00 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 15, 8:00 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 17, 4:00 p.m.
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KUED, Utah's PBS station, provides the state with access to exceptional content that entertains, informs, and enriches viewers. KUED airs PBS programming, plus award-winning, locally produced documentaries and series. Recognized as one of the leading public television stations in the country, KUED is committed to serving and engaging with the Utah community through its diverse productions, as well as its educational and outreach programs.
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