What to Know
- People across the country are showing support for the family of a Connecticut gymnast who died after during a training accident
- More than 1,300 people have donated more than $60K to help the family of Melanie Coleman, and more than $1,000 in meals have been bought
- The 20-year-old Coleman suffered a spinal cord injury while practicing at the New Era Gymnastics facility in Hamden last Friday
People across the country are showing support for the family of a collegiate gymnast from Connecticut who died after suffering an injury during a training accident.
More than 1,300 people have donated more than $60,000 to help the family of Melanie Coleman.
More than $1,000 worth of meals was bought through a meal service program.
The 20-year-old Coleman suffered a spinal cord injury while practicing at the New Era Gymnastics facility in Hamden last Friday.
The gymnastics team from Southern Connecticut State University practices at the gym once a week, according to Thomas Alberti, the gym's the owner and manager and Coleman's former club coach.
He was not there where Coleman was injured but arrived soon after and said she slipped off the bars during a freak accident.
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“She was looked up to by every gymnast in the gym," Alberti said. "They all looked up to her, they wanted to be with her, they loved when she was teaching them. So, she was very well liked by everyone, staff, gymnasts, parents, everybody involved.”
She died at Yale New Haven Hospital on Sunday.
The Milford native was a junior nursing student at the New Haven college. University President Joe Bertolino called Coleman's death a “tragic loss.”
“Her coaches and professors describe Melanie as a special young woman, who excelled both in the classroom and in the gym,” Bertolino said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies are extended to her family and friends on this tragic loss.”
"We are heartbroken and stunned by Melanie's passing," head coach Mary Fredericks said in a statement posted on the SCSU Owls website. "She was an incredibly hard worker and a sweet-spirited young woman. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to her family at this time. The SCSU Gymnastics team will miss her greatly though she will always be with us."
Coleman was a former All State gymnast at Jonathan Law High School.
Alberti said Coleman attained the highest level in the USA Junior Olympics Program.
Coleman was also captain of the Jonathan Law gymnastics team and was named a Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association Scholastic All-American earlier this year.
Jonathan Law Principal Fran Thompson said after Coleman graduated in 2017, she would come back to work with the young gymnasts at the high school.
"They’re missing out on a role model," Thompson said. "They're missing out on a kind spirit and a leader. You know, doing, pursuing what you love to do and so while she wont be here to share that with future students, her legacy will live on."
