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SportsKatelyn Ohashi returns to elite gymnastics after 12 years, scores 24.650 total, misses qualifying mark
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Katelyn Ohashi, 29, made a stunning return to elite gymnastics at the American Classic in Champlin, Minnesota, winning bronze on balance beam with a 13.150 score. The former UCLA star and 2011 U.S. Junior National Champion competed on beam and floor, scoring 24.650 total, but fell short of the 26.800 needed to qualify for the U.S. Championships. She intends to try again at the U.S. Classic in July. Ohashi, who retired in 2019 after a storied NCAA career, had not competed in elite gymnastics since 2013 due to injuries. Her comeback follows her announcement days earlier and is marked by a cautious, step-by-step approach as she trains on her own terms.
Source report
After 13 years away from the elite gymnastics world, Katelyn Ohashi is back. The 29-year-old began her comeback Saturday at the American Classic in Champlin, Minnesota, just days after announcing her shocking return to the sport.
Competition Highlights
Ohashi competed on balance beam and floor exercise at Saturday’s competition, beginning her effort on beam. Known for her world-class difficulty on the event, she posted a strong 13.150 in her first elite routine since 2013, winning bronze in a tie with 2025 World team member Dulcy Caylor.
Despite her years away from the sport, Ohashi did not hold back on difficulty, nailing her trademark acrobatic skill—a standing Arabian—to booming cheers from the small Minnesota crowd.
On floor exercise, Ohashi performed a downgraded version of her planned program, a “dance through” exercise with minimal tumbling. She received an 11.500 on the event, combining for a two-event score of 24.650. Ohashi intentionally withdrew on the remaining two events: vault and uneven bars.
Road to U.S. Championships
In order to qualify for the U.S. Championships in August, Ohashi would have needed a combined two-event total of 26.800. She will have another chance to achieve this result at the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, in July.
Elite Prodigy to NCAA Star
Ohashi retired from gymnastics in 2019 after finishing her senior year with the UCLA Bruins Gymnastics team, which she helped win the NCAA team title in 2018. She also won the individual NCAA title on floor exercise in 2018, collecting countless perfect tens and viral moments in the process.
Before finding stardom at UCLA, Ohashi was widely regarded as the top Olympic prospect for U.S. gymnastics:
- 2011: Became U.S. Junior National Champion, but her young age kept her ineligible from consideration for the 2012 Olympic team.
- 2013: Expected to be her breakout year. She defeated Simone Biles at the American Cup, but her elite prospects quickly crumbled after a series of injuries.
A Return on Her Own Terms
More than a decade later, the beloved gymnast is back—on her terms.
"I’m taking it one day at a time; one skill, one event, one dream. I don’t have any regrets in my career, and I want to be able to continue saying that." — Katelyn Ohashi, via Instagram
After a promising start to her renewed gymnastics journey, the future looks bright for Katelyn Ohashi.
For more details, read: Viral Sensation Katelyn Ohashi Announces Elite Gymnastics Comeback — Forbes
Source
Forbes - BusinessWestern
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