Women's artistic gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics was full of memorable moments: Oksana Chusovitina's eighth Olympic appearance [1], Suni Lee making history for Hmong Americans [2], and Rebeca Andrade becoming Brazil's first Olympic medalist in her sport [3], to name a few. Awards and records aside, it also added to a growing conversation about mental health in sports with Simone Biles leading the dialogue for gymnasts especially [4]. Though we're sad to see it go, women's gymnastics is back on the collegiate level starting this winter.
As a reminder, NCAA gymnastics is scored differently than the numbers we saw at the Tokyo Games — its system still uses perfect-10 scoring as opposed to a combined larger total of execution and difficulty [5] adopted by elite gymnastics in 2006. Ahead, check out gymnasts who will be trading in their Olympic rings for showy salutes [6] and team spirit, which they can now officially do without having to choose between the collegiate world and professional opportunities [7]. Feel the excitement building? We sure do.
Jordan Chiles, UCLA
Jordan Chiles [9], who helped the United States win silver in the team competition [10], will be competing in the upcoming collegiate gymnastics season as a UCLA freshman. UCLA is home to former Bruins like Katelyn Ohashi, Nia Dennis [11], and Kyla Ross [12]. Before she heads off to college, Chiles is set to participate in the Gold Over America Tour [13] led by Simone Biles.
Suni Lee, Auburn University
Suni Lee won all-around gold [14], team silver, and bars bronze [15] for the US at the Tokyo Olympics, and she's headed to Auburn University. "That's my way of celebrating: going to college," she said, according to The Washington Post, who reported that she will be the first Olympic all-around champion to compete in collegiate gymnastics [16].
Grace McCallum, University of Utah
Grace McCallum [17] also helped the US earn silver in the team event. She will compete for University of Utah gymnastics, a program that received third place at this past season's NCAA Gymnastics Championships [18]. "I'm just excited to go on a whole new journey [19] and experience new things," McCallum said on NBC News after returning home from the Games.
Jade Carey, Oregon State University
Jade Carey [20] competed as an individual American gymnast [21] at the Olympics where she won gold for floor [22]. She's listed on the Oregon State University roster for the 2022 season [23].
Leanne Wong, University of Florida
US team alternate Leanne Wong will join the Florida Gators for this upcoming season as a freshman. Riley McCusker [24], who competed at the Olympic Trials and was a favourite for an individual spot due to her bars specialty, is set to compete for the Gators as well [25].
Kara Eaker, University of Utah
Kara Eaker, another US team alternate, will join McCallum in the freshmen class at the University of Utah. Head coach Tom Farden issued a statement when Eaker tested positive for COVID-19 while training in Tokyo [26], saying that the entire Utah Ute community was there for support [27].
Emma Malabuyo, UCLA
US team alternate Emma Malabuyo is another gymnast transitioning into the world of UCLA gymnastics. "They just always have so much energy [28] and they always dance, and I think that's kind of what drew me in because I wanted to have fun and enjoy my sport again," Malabuyo told the Daily Bruin.
Brooklyn Moors, UCLA
Brooklyn Moors competed for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics. Canada didn't qualify as a team, but she finished 16th in the all-around final [29]. "Brooklyn is one of the most artistic athletes in the world [30], performing floor with deep emotion and expression, and she also uses her explosive athleticism to perform one of the most unique and difficult skills on floor – a double front half out," current head coach Chris Waller said at the time of Moors's signing to the school.
Amelie Morgan, University of Utah
Amelie Morgan helped Great Britain win its first medal in the women's artistic Olympic team event in 93 years [31]. She will compete for the University of Utah beginning in the upcoming 2022 season, which was officially announced on Aug. 6 [32].
Shallon Olsen, University of Alabama
Team Canada's Shallon Olsen is an incoming senior at the University of Alabama. She's a two-time Olympian and finished seventh in the Tokyo Olympic vault final for women's artistic gymnastics [33].
Ariana Orrego, Iowa State University
Gymnast Ariana Orrego represented Peru at the Tokyo Olympics, where she finished 74th in the all-around during the qualification round [34], as well as the Rio Olympics; at the latter, she became Peru's first Olympic gymnast [35]. She started competing for Iowa State University [36] in 2018.
Sze En Tan, Stanford University
Singapore's Sze En Tan competed on beam and floor during the qualifying round at the Tokyo Olympics, though she did not finish in the top eight (with a two-per-country maximum limit) on either event to move through to the finals. She was the second gymnast from Singapore to compete at an Olympic Games [37], and she's an incoming sophomore at Stanford University [38].
Future Collegiate Gymnast: Kayla DiCello, University of Florida
Here's a bonus slide: Kayla DiCello, a Team USA alternate, announced she was verbally committing to the University of Florida in November of 2018 [39]. She's currently going into her senior year of high school [40], so you won't see her in NCAA gymnastics just yet.