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Kristina Baskett gained fame as a Ute gymnast, then found the spotlight again as a ‘Game of Thrones’ stunt double. Now she’s a Sun Devil.

(Courtesy Kristina Baskett) Former University of Utah gymnast Kristina Baskett is learning various forms of martial arts to make herself more marketable as a Hollywood stunt double.

One of the last times most Utah gymnastics fans saw Kristina Baskett in a public capacity it was in the widely popular Game of Thrones series as she starred as the stunt double for the character Arya, the heroine who kills the Night King in the show’s climax.

Now Baskett is serving in a more traditional role for the former Utah gymnast, as an assistant coach for Arizona State.

Baskett, who was a 12-time All-American for the Utes from 2006-09, will be back in the Huntsman Center on Friday when the Sun Devils take on the Utes at 7 p.m.

Baskett has helped the Sun Devils the last two years in a volunteer capacity after reaching out to the school when she and her husband, former Utah football player John Peel moved to Arizona.

Baskett originally assisted only between stunt jobs but now that she and Peel are expecting their first child in May, coaching makes more sense than high flying acrobatics at the moment.

“I didn’t foresee it going further than volunteering at the time, but life has a funny way of changing and creating new opportunities,” she said.

NO. 5 UTAH VS. ARIZONA STATE

At the Huntsman Center


When • Friday, 7 p.m.

TV • None

Radio • ESPN 700

Records • Utah (4-0, 0-0), Arizona State (3-2, 0-0)

Series • Utah leads 77-16-1

Last meeting • Utah won 197.375-195.825 (Jan. 26, 2019)


Of note • This is the Pac-12 season opener for both teams…The Utes are 6-2 in conference openers…Kim Tessen was named the Pac-12 Specialist of the Week after winning bars and floor at the Best of Utah meet…Utah freshman Jillian Hoffman missed the first two meets with a sprained ankle, but could compete Friday…ASU’s Juliette Boyer won the all-around in ASU’s 195.25-187.225 win over UC Davis.

While at Utah, Baskett earned a reputation as a team player with an easy going, inclusive attitude. So it’s no surprise she would gravitate to coaching.

“I really like building a relationship with each of the girls,” she said. “This stage in their life as collegiate athletes is so impactful on what they do and where they go next, I want to play a positive part that sets them up to be successful in whatever they want to accomplish as gymnasts and people.”

Baskett couldn’t have predicted how her own post-college life would go as a planned career in photography was put on hold after she got a part in Las Vegas’ “Le Reve.” That effort led to more and more stunt jobs in a variety of commercials, movies and shows. She became a regular on the GOT series in Season 6. As actress Maisie Williams’ part grew in the role of Arya, so did Baskett’s as her stunt double.

The role garnered more attention than she ever predicted.

“It’s funny, because we are so used to not getting any credit or publicity for our work, that it is strange when your name does get exposed, especially on that level,” she said. “The show has such a global fanbase, it was definitely a huge conversation topic.”

Baskett hasn’t totally left the stunt world behind her. Her last major project, as a stunt double in CW’s Stargirl, debuts this spring.

“It was my most challenging and fulfilling role yet,” she said.

Baskett wants to return to her stunt career in some capacity after having her baby, but doesn’t expect it would include the long commitments that GOT or Stargirl required.

“I have put a lot of hard work in building my career,” she said. “I still enjoy it and would like to keep it as part of my life however it fits in the future.”

(Chris Detrick | Tribune file photo) Utah's Kristina Baskett watches during the 2009 Individual Event Finals at the University of Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Sports Center Saturday, April 18, 2009.