On Saturday night, UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi front-flipped, then front-flipped with a twist, then front flipped again with another twist before bounding up into the air and landing in a split—all perfectly in time with a riff from Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.” That—plus the rest of her heart-stopping floor exercise routine set to a mashup of R&B music largely featuring the King of Pop’s greatest hits—earned her a perfect 10 from the judges at the 2019 Collegiate Challenge powered by Under Armour. Her routine helped UCLA sail to victory over Cal, UC Davis, and Michigan State.
Ohashi’s routine has amassed 17.1 million views on Twitter in the last day, and I can’t stop watching it:
A 🔟 isn’t enough for this floor routine by @katelyn_ohashi. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pqUzl7AlUA
Who is Katelyn Ohashi?
Ohashi, 21, is a UCLA senior, and the reigning NCAA floor exercise champion. A former member of the U.S. National Team, the onetime Olympic hopeful joined the UCLA team in 2015 after sustaining back and shoulder injuries. In 2013, she defeated Simone Biles in the all-around competition at the American Cup, and was one of the final gymnasts to beat the now-dominant Biles in a major competition.
Ohashi is no stranger to viral fame. Last March, she flipped, twisted, and moonwalked her way through a different Michael Jackson mashup and drew more than 4.1 million views on YouTube.
Ohashi’s gymnastics career hasn’t always been so sunny. Last summer, in a moving clip from the Player’s Tribune, Ohashi revealed her elite career was plagued not only by injuries, but also body image issues that destroyed her self-esteem. She credits UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field with helping her rebuild her confidence, reignite her love for the sport, and become one of the NCAA’s top performers today.
From: Prevention US
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