Mathematics and Gymnastics
David Dietrich
Elaina McGovern vividly remembers when she fell in love with math. In fifth grade, she was tasked with completing a research project on the Fibonacci sequence, a sequence where each element is the sum of the two elements that precede it.
“I remember being amazed at how this Fibonacci pattern kept showing up everywhere in nature, like pinecones and hurricanes,” she said. “Ever since then, I’ve been particularly interested in anything where math shows up in my everyday life, which happens way more often than you would think.” Fast forward 11 years and McGovern has dedicated countless hours to two passions: mathematics and gymnastics.
The Kentucky native has taken advantage of opportunities in both areas during her time at Boise State. In 2023, McGovern participated in a four-week biostatistics and applied research study hosted by the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health. Last spring, she earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics. In two months, she will obtain her second degree in four years, adding a master’s in mathematics with a statistics concentration. Her next academic step will be pursuing a PhD in biostatistics at the University of South Carolina.
The academic accomplishments speak for themselves, but the senior has done this while being one of the most consistent members of the Bronco gymnastics program, helping the team earn an NCAA Regional Championships berth three times. She also serves on the board of the department’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is a three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American. Boise State gymnastics academic advisor Sarah Asla describes McGovern as “a delight to work with.” In the words of head coach Tina Bird, “She’s the total package.
"Math Camp"
Participation in Iowa’s four-week biostatistics research program is one of the top experiences for any mathematics student in the country and McGovern wouldn’t have known about it without Boise State. A professor sent her information on the program, which garnered interest instantly.
“I saw it was funded by the National Institute of Health, which immediately caught my attention. As I read the rest of the flyer, I was thrilled,” she explained . “It was exactly what I wanted to pursue a career in. I had never seen any sort of program that was specifically for biostatistics, and I knew I wanted to do everything I could to be able to attend.”
She applied and was one of 24 candidates selected from a pool of national applicants, finding out through a personal phone call from the program director. Knowing how exclusive the program was, McGovern approached her coaches about taking a hiatus from gymnastics. The staff fully supported the break, emphasizing the importance of the opportunity and staying consistent with their academic values.
“I've encouraged her to apply for all things and put gymnastics on hold when she needs to. That was a tough decision for her, because she had to go there for four weeks,” said Bird. “She had already tried to figure out how she could do gymnastics and there just was no time. So we didn’t worry about it. We wanted to get her through this opportunity then come back and do what we have to do.”
With the support of her coaches, McGovern embarked on the journey to the Hawkeye State for an experience she modestly refers to as “math camp.” She spoke highly of the distinguished program and the lessons it provided.
“One of my favorite parts was getting to soak in all of the wisdom from those around me. We were completely immersed within the department and got to build personal connections with the staff and students,” she said. “I learned so much I wouldn’t have known if not for this program.”
During her time in Iowa, McGovern worked on a program that aimed to minimize income disparities in the United States. Her group simulated income distribution within the country, using various transformations to find the best way to minimize the gap between the bottom 1% and the top 1%. At the end of the summer, the group presented their findings to the entire program. Not only did she gain valuable field experience, she saw a clearer picture of what her post-gymnastics career could look like.
“The program helped me narrow in on what I want to do as a career. Each week, different faculty and guest speakers talked to us about their journey and current position. I had no idea there were so many areas of biostatistics which all focus on something unique, so it was really helpful to hear the different perspectives,” she explained. “Prior to going to Iowa, I had zero intention of teaching. As the professors there shared what their day-to-day life is like, I realized I would love to teach and work in academia. It’s the best of both worlds because I would be able to work on research while also sharing my passion for math with others.”
The Start of the Sequence
The first time McGovern heard of Boise State gymnastics was when she saw the team’s Instagram post about being academic national champions, a feat the Broncos achieved in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
“When I was going through the recruiting process, I knew I wanted a school that valued academics and athletics equally,” McGovern said. “As much as I love doing gymnastics, I’m ultimately in college to get an education, so I wanted a program that valued school as much as I did.”
She attended a Boise State gymnastics camp in 2019, with hopes of going to school for engineering. Part of the visit included a tour of the engineering building, which led to the painful realization her anticipated career path wasn’t the one she wanted.
“As they were showing me around and explaining all of their machinery and things they had done, I had the realization engineering is not really what I thought it was at all,” she said. “I ended up crying in the bathroom with my mom because my entire career plan had been ruined in the span of 30 minutes.”
The unexpected change in plans proved valuable, as it led McGovern down her current path.
“I’m so grateful I had that experience, because it helped me to piece together what it is I actually liked about engineering, which was being able to apply math to real world issues,” she said. “Because of that, I landed on a specific field of math called biostatistics, which uses math to address issues within the context of public health.”
Bird, who knew McGovern’s club coaches from their time living in McCall, Idaho, recruited her knowing her athletic and academic ceilings were high. “I’d known she was a great gymnast, super talented. I knew coming to Boise State and being under consistent coaching, she was going to thrive,” said Bird. “I also knew she was smart, successful and super-driven, and she could get a really good hands-on experience here.”
McGovern committed to the Broncos in 2020, crediting the staff’s balance of school and sport. “That was probably the biggest deciding factor in why I came here. I knew Tina and the coaching staff would prioritize academics equally with athletics, which is exactly what I wanted. I knew my school work would be a priority, not an afterthought.”
Accelerated Path
When McGovern arrived on campus, she brought various credits from the AP classes she took in high school. After early conversations with various advisors, including Asla, McGovern discovered the possibility of receiving her bachelor’s degree in three years. Never one to back down from a challenge, she began taking sophomore-level courses as a true freshman.
The undertaking was difficult for McGovern, who admitted she wasn’t always great at balancing gymnastics and school. “Coming to college is hard by itself. I skipped over a lot of the freshman-level classes. It was a lot of change at one time.”
Bird knew the standard McGovern held herself to was extremely high, so she always made herself available to the gymnast. “I’ve been here when she needs to come in and let some stress out, let some tears out, or she needs a hug,” Bird said.
The encouragement and support from her head coach helped McGovern stay on track and remain motivated to reach her goals.
“There were a lot more tears in the beginning than there are now, just because she doesn’t accept less than the best from herself,” Bird said. “She learned along the way that as long as she’s giving her best, she’s going to be okay, even if the outcome isn’t the best.”
Despite the challenges, the outcome of McGovern’s freshman year was the best. She earned a perfect 4.00 GPA, earning Scholastic All-America honors and leading the Broncos to a team GPA of 3.84, third-highest in the nation. She did this while competing on floor in all 10 meets, earning a team-high 9.850 at the MRGC Championships and a 9.800 at NCAA Regionals.
McGovern knew her path to a three-year graduation wouldn’t match her desire to complete four years of gymnastics. Fortunately, she was able to join the accelerated master’s program, which allows students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s in five years. Because she already planned to earn her bachelor’s in three years, McGovern saw the opportunity to earn both degrees in four years, staying consistent with her athletic schedule.
When facing senior-level courses as a sophomore, McGovern relied on various resources provided by the university. Asla refers to her as a problem-solver, raving about her ability to seek out as many resources and opportunities as she could on her own.
McGovern also found success in taking things one day at a time. “I think being able to prioritize things well helps. You have to balance a lot of things, but take it day-by-day and know what's most important each day,” she said. “Sometimes that's doing homework all day, sometimes that's going to a basketball game just to relax and have fun. I try to find as much balance as I can.”
The day-by-day mentality worked. McGovern repeated as a Scholastic All-American in 2023 and saw even more success on the mats. She returned to Boise State’s floor lineup and appeared in every meet on bars, sticking a career-best 9.850 during the second round of NCAA Regionals. While focusing on the day-to-day, she still keeps the big picture in mind, a quality Asla says is rare but makes McGovern stand out among her peers.
“Elaina can see one year, two years, three years down the road. A lot of student-athletes get stuck in the here and now and have a hard time thinking about life after athletics,” said Asla. “She’s always thought about life after athletics and has always been preparing for what that step is going to look like when she doesn't have gymnastics anymore.”
“McGovern spent the offseason in Iowa, pausing her gymnastics work to focus solely on biostatistics. Upon returning to the Treasure Valley for her junior season, McGovern began training on vault, adding a third apparatus to her repertoire. She earned All-MW second team on floor, helping the Broncos win the conference championship and qualify for NCAA Regionals again. A month after competing on the national stage, she obtained her bachelor’s, reaching the goal of a three-year degree. She was named the Varsity B Honorary Captain, an award given to the student-athlete in the graduating class who best displays commitment and service to the department and university beyond participation in sport.
The Final Routines
Now a senior, McGovern is grateful for the experience Boise State has provided, both on and off the mats. She is especially thankful for Emma Loyim, Blake Pascal and Alyssa Vulaj, the other members of a class that has spent four years together. As the quartet nears the end of their time at Boise State, they frequently reminisce on their shared journey. Since 2021, every Boise State floor lineup has featured at least two of the four and all but two meets have included at least three.
“We were just texting about how we all four started our college careers competing on floor together, and we're all going to end competing on floor together in the same lineup,” she shared. “It’s kind of crazy and I feel like that doesn't happen often, to have four freshmen compete all the way through. I couldn’t imagine doing gymnastics without them. I’m glad I don’t have to.”
All four seniors, along with fifth years Emily Lopez, Julia Melchert and Dani Nakayama, have received multiple Scholastic All-America accolades during their careers. Bird knows the value of high academic standards, which are consistently raised by McGovern.
“She makes everybody else strive to be better. Whatever you put your mind to, you can do. I know that's cliché, but she proves it,” Bird said. “You can do it while being a Division I scholarship athlete and being on the SAAC board. You can do it all. You have to really want it and be organized.”
McGovern credits her teammates’ work ethic and high standard for their success as students and athletes. “Everyone knows the standard. Everyone works as hard in the classroom as they do in the gym. It’s so much better when everyone is on the same page,” she said.
Asla and Bird have both seen McGovern’s growth as a leader, especially to newcomers.
“She’s such a positive light. I encourage the freshmen to connect with Elaina if they’re struggling in an area,” Asla said.
What's Next
Organization and work ethic will be key for McGovern when she heads to South Carolina to pursue her PhD. Always a fan of efficiency, she will make the trip east with the goal of earning her degree in four years. While her final career destination is not entirely clear, McGovern is still enrolling with a purpose.
“Part of the reason I chose this program was because it's more open-ended and you don't have to pick a specialty right off the bat,” she explained. “They have a lot of classes where you can practice teaching and researching. I don't know exactly what I want to do yet, but I definitely want to teach a little bit.”
No matter the path she takes, Asla knows McGovern will be successful, even making a prediction about future accomplishments.
“Elaina is prepared and genuinely a great fit for this program. She’s going to excel in everything she does,” Asla said. She’s going to solve some crazy problem and we're going to see her name pop up in a journal. I can't wait.”
As they reach the end of this chapter of their story, Bird speaks highly of the impact McGovern has had on her.
“It's been a pleasure and honor to be a part of her journey,” Bird said. “Watching her grow from a little kid with these red glasses she used to compete in, to her club career, then becoming a Bronco, watching her grow into a leader, it’s amazing. She’s left her mark on the program and she's going to be missed.”
McGovern is equally thankful for her time as a Bronco.
“I've grown so much in ways I didn't even know I needed to. Athletically, I never thought I could be as good as I am right now. Academically, I've pushed myself more than I ever thought I could to finish both of my degrees. I’ve had so many cool leadership opportunities and chances to do things in the community. I feel like I've grown up and turned into a well-rounded person. I feel set up for whatever I do in the future from everything Boise State has given me.”Elaina McGovern