It’s not hard to see why. Her flawless routine is nothing short of a wonder to behold.
Apart from her awe-inspiring athleticism the sheer joy she exudes while performing is thrilling.
The 21-year old Ohashi was awarded a perfect score for her “electrifying performance full of gravity-defying flips, killer dance moves and a healthy dose of sassy confidence” all while wearing a wide grin.
https://twitter.com/uclagymnastics/status/1084325320935657472
Katelyn Ohashi is not unfamiliar with perfect tens or viral fame. Last year her routine to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” earned her three perfect 10s at different meets and was watched almost 100 million times on Facebook.
Her backstory is compelling and makes her joy-filled viral floor routines all the more joyous to watch. She was an elite gymnast who represented America several times, was an Olympic hopeful and considered ‘unbeatable’. But in 2015 she quit elite gym after it left her ‘broken’.
You saw her incredible floor routine this weekend, but @Katelyn_Ohashi's story on how she ended up at @UCLAgymnastics is just as impressive. pic.twitter.com/PwCadK5ZcF
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) January 14, 2019
She explained that persistent injuries and body image issues had destroyed her self-esteem and so she decided to go to college.
https://twitter.com/publicroad/status/1084928687676579840
She has thrived under the tutelage of renowned coach ‘Miss Val’ at UCLA and says college gym has rekindled her love of the sport. The joy is real.