Jessica Gil Ortiz

Ortiz was born in Miami; her parents were Colombian immigrants. Her mother owned a gym, which was how she was introduced to the sport.^[1]

She studied business in Miami.^[1]

Ortiz competed at the 2006 World Championships, where she placed 84th in all-around qualifications.^[2] The next year, she finished in 59th place at the 2007 World Championships.^[3] She had hoped to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics at the competition, but she missed doing so after she fractured her heel a day before the competition; she fell on the balance beam due to her injury.^[1]

At the 2009 World Championships, held in London, Ortiz fell on a double front somersault during her second tumbling pass and landed on her head. She was taken to the hospital. Hers was one of several injuries that occurred at the championships.^[4][5] However, she was not seriously injured by the fall.^[1][6]

In January 2010, Ortiz went to a clinic with severe abdominal pain and had emergency surgery for appendicitis. She spent a month in the hospital. Afterward, she struggled to train and initially decided to leave gymnastics; however, her parents convinced her to begin training again.^[1] She competed at the World Cup in Ghent in September, where she won gold in the vault final.^[7] This was the first medal won by a Colombian gymnast on the World Cup circuit.^[1]

She entered the 2010 World Championships but did not compete.^[8] The next year, she competed at the 2011 World Championships and finished 77th in qualifications.^[9]

At the 2012 Gymnastics Olympic Test Event in January, Ortiz qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[10] She competed there later in the year, where she finished 42nd in the all-around qualifications.^[11]