Must-Watch Routines At The 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships

Q: What teams are competing in the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships?

The competition features the 'Elite Eight' teams, including top-ranked athletes from various universities.

Q: When does the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships start?

The championships begin on Thursday afternoon, March 7, 2026.

Q: Where is the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships being held?

The championships are taking place in Fort Worth, Texas.

Q: What is at stake for the teams in the NCAA Gymnastics Championships?

Teams are competing for a berth in the NCAA National Championship on Saturday.

STANFORD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 7: Ana Barbosu on floor during a meet between UCLA and Stanford University at Stanford Maples Pavilion on March 7, 2026 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Karen Hickey/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

ISI Photos via Getty Images

NCAA Gymnastics’ Elite Eight’ will take the stage on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas, fighting for a berth to compete in Saturday’s NCAA National Championship. With hundreds of top-ranked athletes competing over two days of high-pressure competition, the talent on display is almost overwhelming.

With competition beginning Thursday afternoon, here’s your guide to the must-see routines of the championship weekend.

Vault

Jordan Chiles (UCLA)

Almost everyone has seen Jordan Chiles’ 10.0 floor routines, but the senior’s vault is just as impressive. Chiles has been competing one of the most difficult vaults in the NCAA this year, a Yurchenko double full – the same vault she competed at the Olympic Games. She has already received a perfect ten on the vault in 2026 and has been flirting with perfection ever since.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins reacts after competes on vault at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on January 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Chiles scored a perfect 10 on the event. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

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Kailin Chio (LSU)

No. 1-ranked all-around gymnast Kailin Chio is also the top-ranked gymnast on vault (and balance beam, for good measure). Chio vaults an impeccable Yurchenko 1.5, and has blown judges and fans away with her uncanny ability to stick the vault. The sophomore has stuck 12 of 14 vaults this season, and arrives in Fort Worth after recording five consecutive stuck landings.

Sage Kellerman (Michigan State)

Spartan star Sage Kellerman is the reigning national runner-up on vault, and new fans will soon learn why. Kellerman vaults a unique front handspring pike half and has garnered recognition due to her ability to stick the vault with near-perfect form. Though the senior is one of just a few athletes capable of this unique vault, she is arguably the best in the country to attempt it.

Morgan Price (Arkansas):

While Kailin Chio has unprecedented landing ability, Arkansas senior Morgan Price offers unprecedented technique. Price upgraded her vault to the Yurchenko 1.5 for her senior season, and the result is arguably the best rendition of the skill in the country. The vault helped Price secure Arkansas’ first 10.0 in program history, and with otherworldly height and execution, Price will be on 10.0 watch in Fort Worth.

Uneven Bars

Skye Blakely (Florida)

While it’s hard to isolate just one routine from Florida’s top-ranked uneven bars lineup, sophomore Skye Blakely’s routine stands alone in terms of difficulty. Blakely brings elite-level skills to the NCAA, and most recently finished fourth at the world championships on uneven bars. With a massive release combination and highly difficult dismount, Blakely’s bar routine is one to watch.

Levi Jung-Ruivivar (Stanford)

Few athletes have cleaner form than redshirt freshman Levi Jung-Ruivivar. The 2024 Olympian has been stellar in the leadoff spot for the Stanford Cardinal, earning a season high of 9.95 – an unprecedented score in the first spot of a lineup. With a toepoint that could rival prima ballerinas and a knack for sticking her dismount, Jung-Ruivivar’s routine is the highlight in a stacked Stanford lineup.

Lily Pederson (Oklahoma)

Like Jung-Ruivivar, Lily Pederson is the leadoff for a power-packed bars squad. Though the leadoff athlete often scores lower due to ‘rotation inflation,’ that commonality has not affected the sophomore. Pederson has been on fire as of late, posting a 9.900 or higher on her last five routines. When Pederson predictably nails her massive double-layout dismount, she acts as a fire-starter. From that moment on, fans can expect a lights-out rotation from the No. 1 team in the nation.

Autumn Reingold (Georgia)

As just a freshman, Georgia’s Autumn Reingold has been invaluable in the anchor spot. Reingold clinched the regional title on bars last week with a huge 9.975, securing her seventh score of 9.900 or higher on the event. With some of the cleanest form in the nation, Reingold’s uneven bars routine is a breath of fresh air for avid fans – and for the judges.

Balance Beam

Selena Harris-Miranda (Florida)

Selena Harris-Miranda shines on all four events, but the Florida Gators star is undeniable on the balance beam. The senior owns three perfect tens on the event, earning two of the three in the 2026 season. Harris-Miranda opens her routine with a dynamic triple series and closes with a flighty – and often stuck – dismount.

Florida's Selena Harris-Miranda competes on the balance beam during an NCAA gymnastics meet against Auburn on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Ella Murphy (Oklahoma)

While many athletes stand out for their power, Ella Murphy’s elegance leads the field. Much like Stanford’s Jung-Ruivivar on uneven bars, the freshman brings balletic poise, form, and execution to the balance beam. Murphy scored a huge 9.925 in her collegiate debut and hasn’t slowed down since, posting ten scores at a 9.925 or higher – including a near-perfect 9.975.

Joscelyn Roberson (Arkansas)

Joscelyn Roberson packs a punch on the balance beam. The sophomore ranks fifth in the nation on the event and has scored a 9.95 or higher on 10 of 14 routines this season. Though Roberson posted a near-perfect 9.975 in a dual meet versus LSU, the Olympic alternate still chases an elusive perfect ten. With a dynamic flight series and a unique front full-dismount, Roberson’s routine is power-personified.

Brooklyn Rowray (Minnesota)

Brookyln Rowray was instrumental in helping the No. 13 Golden Gophers reach Fort Worth, largely due to her efforts on the balance beam. Rowray owns a personal best of 9.975, and has posted a 9.925 or better in six of seven routines leading up to this week’s national semifinals. The senior is fresh off winning the regional balance beam title and looks to help Minnesota make more history in Texas.

Floor

Ana Bărbosu (Stanford)

Stanford freshman Ana Bărbosu arrives in Fort Worth with arguably the most impressive resume on a respective event: an Olympic bronze medal, a European championship, and the 2026 ACC title. Bărbosu brings the full package on floor, combining elite-level tumbling with engaging dance and artistry. The freshman has also been on a hot streak, posting three straight scores of 9.95+ to carry the No. 7 Cardinal to Texas.

Brie Clark (Clemson)

Clemson’s Brie Clark will cap a historic season and career in Fort Worth. The senior led the Tigers to the program’s first ACC Championship in March, became the program’s first All-American, and is now the first Clemson gymnast to qualify for the national championships. As expected, Clark is exceptional on floor. The senior ranks eighth in the nation and hasn’t scored below a 9.900 all season. Clark was also the first NCAA gymnast to compete a Biles I, and fans eagerly hope to see the skill return for Clark’s final collegiate routine.

Kaliya Lincoln (LSU)

LSU’s floor routines have long been revered for their high difficulty and power, and sophomore Kaliya Lincoln is the next athlete in a long line of Tiger stars. The former Pan American Champion on floor opens with one of the highest double layouts in the world, and shows equally staggering height on her leaps. The former elite has scored over 9.925 on all but one routine, and clinched the regional floor title with the first perfect ten of her career.

Tiana Sumanasekera (UCLA)

Even in the midst of the iconic UCLA “floor party,” freshman Tiana Sumanasekera is an artistic standout. The U.S. Olympic alternate has choreographed her floor routines since she was a young gymnast on the club circuit, and her freshman routine enthralls audiences with a scintillating Bollywood theme. While winning hearts with her artistry, Sumanasekera also tumbles a strong double layout and looks to continue her hit streak in Fort Worth.

CaMarah Williams (Georgia)

Freshman CaMarah Williams has been integral to the resurgence of a once-struggling Georgia Gymnastics program. Though Williams is also a contributor on vault and balance beam, the freshman is a standout on floor exercise. In addition to delivering some of the cleanest and highest tumbling in the nation, the former elite gymnast is clutch: she has scored 9.900 or higher on 12 of 15 routines, including three 9.975s.

How To Watch

NCAA Gymnastics ‘Elite Eight’ will face off across two semifinals, both held on Thursday, April 16. Each semifinal will feature four teams alongside top individual athletes competing without their programs in attendance. The top two teams from each semifinal will compete for the national championship on Saturday, April 18.

The semifinals will air on ESPN2, and the final will air on ABC. All three sessions will also be broadcast online on ESPN+ streaming services. For those looking to closely follow a specific team or athlete, ESPN+ offers localized apparatus feeds for each event.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Must-Watch Routines At The 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships

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