HBCU gymnastics program cut after just one season

After one season competing as the second HBCU gymnastics program, Talladega College is halting its program.

The Alabama-based HBCU stated in a release that it doesn’t have the resources to continue the program.

“While the decision to discontinue the gymnastics program was undoubtedly difficult, we remain incredibly proud of our gymnasts, coaches, and their remarkable achievements. Their dedication and resilience have set a high standard, and their legacy will continue to inspire, Talladega College Interim President Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough said.

“This strategic move is part of our broader vision to position Talladega College to be stronger and more vibrant on all levels, ensuring that we can continue to provide exceptional opportunities for our students,” he said.

Talladega College became the second HBCU program when it launched in 2023, coming on the heels of the inaugural one at Fisk University which piloted one year earlier.

The program produced a national champion in its lone season. Freshman Kyrstin Johnson won the USGA national title in vault this spring. She talked about the impact that the HBCU had on her as a person as well as a gymnast.

“It’s something I just started. I feel like now that I’m at Talladega, I can actually be free to be myself,” Johnson told HBCU Gameday. “I felt like in J-O (junior olympics), I always had to pull my hair up or put it in a braids. I would see the other girls braiding each other’s hair, doing this, and I would be in the back struggling, trying to take off my bonnet, trying to lay down my edges, and try to make sure the part was straight in the back of my head. But now I can just do a wash and go. Let my hair out and flow and just do my thing out on the floor.”

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