The women gymnasts from UCLA are known for their showstopping choreography [1] and viral routines [2] — and aside from when they're performing, they are masked up on the sidelines. What are those vibrant personalities really like off camera? UCLA put mics on some athletes during a competition back in February, and the result is a must-watch.
We love hearing the funny banter from former UCLA Bruin and current undergraduate assistant coach Kyla "Boss" Ross [3]. Other mic'd-up athletes were seniors Kendal Poston and Lilia Waller and freshmen Frida Esparza and Sara Ulias. Great bits from the footage? Esparza's commentary during Margzetta Frazier's iconic Janet Jackson floor routine [4] and Ulias adding hilarious commentary of her own while Poston performs in front of the beam judges. (Head coach Chris Waller dancing is also a delight to see — go, Waller, go!) They are one big family singing Alicia Keys [5], laughing out loud, and supporting each other. Yes, we'd totally ask these gymnasts to be our hype people. We have no doubt they'd do a phenomenal job.