By the time an athlete has reached the college competition level in a sport like gymnastics, they have spent countless hours training for the moment when they will step in front of their friends, fellow athletes, coaches, and a large audience to claim the championship. When you see that athlete’s polished performance, you probably don’t think about the early mornings, long days, missed social events, and literal b***d, sweat, and tears that have brought them to this moment.
It’s easy to look over all of that when you have such a well-crafted routine right in front of your eyes. You begin to think that perhaps this person is a natural and that they were born with this skill. For some, their talent is natural, but to perfect it takes time and practice, and I’m sure that every athlete can agree with me on that one.
Being an athlete takes extreme dedication and sacrifice. For UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, all of those years of training culminated in her epic floor routine at the PAC 12 Championships. The place was packed, all eyes were on her, and it was her moment to shine. So, was she nervous? Maybe. Actually, she most likely was. But, did this stop her from giving it best? Not at all.
All the pressure was on this young woman and yet she walked onto the floor looking cool, calm, and collected, just as she had hundreds of other times. But, she had to realize that her hopes and her team’s dreams to win this championship rested on her shoulders. She had been able to score a perfect ten on her floor routine many times, but it would remain to be seen if she could match that perfection today.
Katelyn did not disappoint. Though she must have been nervous, she let that anxiety fuel her energetic performance. As a familiar Michael Jackson song filled the room, the star athlete flipped, leaped, and danced across the floor. She included plenty of MJ- themed dance moves that brought an element of fun to the powerful routine. Not only was her routine flawless, she really looked like she was enjoying herself! In the end, her hard work paid off, and she was rewarded with her scores, much to the delight of her proud teammates. They can’t say that anything was lacking in this power-packed performance. Katelyn gave it her all!
Watch the amazing performance in the video below and please like and share!
