Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

8 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

9 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

13 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

13 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

14 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

15 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

3 days ago
UCLA's Katelyn Ohashi Looks to Make Final Statement on Floor
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
April 17, 2019

Share

LOS ANGELES — Katelyn Ohashi wrote a poem called “Fame ” that ends “Not everyone’s destiny is going to be the same. Set your own goals and make your own fame.”
As the 22-year old UCLA senior gets ready to compete for the final time at the NCAA Championships, she has lived up to her own words with a trio of viral floor routines that have given her an audience outside the world of gymnastics and a platform to speak out on issues of empowerment. The meet begins Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ohashi is ranked first nationally in floor exercise after recording a perfect 10.0 in six meets. She’s just the fourth gymnast in NCAA history to have a 10.0 national qualifying score on any event.
For as much attention as Ohashi gets on floor exercise, she is also ranked second nationally on the balance beam and leads a Bruins squad that is the defending national champion and has lost only one meet this season.
“I think I finally have really taken ownership of myself and me as a gymnast,” Ohashi said. “It just reminds you that timing is everything. I wouldn’t have been ready for all of this last year. I think this being my last year has set me up for a lot of the things I want to do in my future. I’ve always wanted to have a platform like this. So I think it’s really amazing.”
She is using that platform to try to spread a message of empowerment for women and to stand with survivors of abuse. It’s the theme of her new routine, a reworking of the one that earned her a perfect 10.0 in five of 10 meets and got more than 117 million views on social media, leading to appearances on national morning shows and acclaim from musicians, actors, athletes and politicians.

Ohashi Always Planned to Have Two Different Routines

The routine opens with music from Tina Turner, retains a section from Janet Jackson, and features music and dance moves from Beyonce. The first one featured a medley of songs that also included Earth Wind & Fire, the Jackson 5, and music and dance moves from Michael Jackson.

“That’s kind of why we decided to, you know, go through with all the women musicians and who runs the world? Girls. Like, duh, no brainer. I feel like it is important to have that message in a platform because I’m on a team with survivors and my floor coach is a survivor herself.” — Katelyn Ohashi
“That’s kind of why we decided to, you know, go through with all the women musicians and who runs the world? Girls. Like, duh, no brainer,” she said. “I feel like it is important to have that message in a platform because I’m on a team with survivors and my floor coach is a survivor herself.”
The floor coach, Jordyn Wieber, was one of five athletes on the 2012 team who testified they were abused by Larry Nassar, a former doctor for USA Gymnastics who is in prison for sexually assaulting patients.
Ohashi always planned to have two different routines this season. She introduced the new one at the Pac-12 Championships. She earned a 10.0 at the Pac-12 meet and followed that with a 9.95 at the NCAA regional meet.
The change also coincided with the release of the “Leaving Neverland” documentary about Michael Jackson. Ohashi said removing Michael Jackson’s dance moves and music was a conscious decision because, “It’s about joy and if it makes one person feel uncomfortable then that’s never been my goal.”
Wieber said it wasn’t about whether they wanted to support Jackson’s music or not, but more about giving respect to all survivors.
“Katelyn has built this platform for herself where she reaches so many people not just in the gymnastics world but in the entire world. I’m just really excited that she decided to do that,” Wieber said.

‘This Is a Dream Come True for a Coach’

The music for the new routine was selected by Ohashi, UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field, Wieber and former UCLA gymnast Ariana Berlin. Berlin spliced it all together. It also features a higher degree of difficulty with extra flips on tumbling passes and more intricate choreography, which Ohashi delivers with an energetic flair and enthusiasm that draws roars and appreciative screams from the audience.
Kondos Field and Wieber felt the pressure going into this season of seeing whether Ohashi could live up to 2018, when she became the NCAA floor champion with a routine that had more than 90 million views. UCLA has had many floor routines go viral, but last year was the first time it was done by a junior.
“We’ve never had to top it so I knew it had to be more exciting and joyful,” Kondos Field said. “All the music that we were finding and that she was bringing to me was cool music. It was artistic. It was really great music, but it wasn’t joyful on a level greater than she had last year.”
Kondos Field, who is retiring at the end of the season, said the whole experience this year has made Ohashi a better person, student and teammate.
“This is a dream come true for a coach to see a student-athlete mature through celebrity,” she said. “She has been inundated with media requests and having to keep up with school and having to be a great team player and not being able to be late for work out. And she’s maneuvered everything so well like a pro.”
It wasn’t a dream beginning, however.
Before Ohashi arrived at UCLA in the fall of 2015, she competed for four years at the elite level and won the all-around competition at the America’s Cup in 2013. But that was her last major accomplishment on the elite stage as back and shoulder injuries derailed her Olympic hopes.

Ohashi Has Been Outspoken About Issues That Matter to Her

As bad as the physical injuries were, Ohashi was in worse shape mentally because of the pressures of competition and the coaches. Kondos Field and Ohashi went out to lunch regularly her freshman year. The discussions weren’t about routines, but about college life.
Kondos Field also challenged her to use all the time she spent on her phone more productively, like listening to TED talks.

“That is literally when the little bud of a flower started to bloom, and her mind started opening up to things.” — UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field
“That is literally when the little bud of a flower started to bloom, and her mind started opening up to things,” the coach said.
Ohashi has been outspoken about issues that matter to her. She has used her poetry to shed light on dealing with fame, body image and anti-bullying. Her love of writing came from years of being in elite gymnastics where the only way to express her thoughts was to write in journals.
She has recently discussed body shaming issues on a blog she started with a friend called “Behind the Madness.”
Ohashi will be riding the momentum of her notoriety for a while. She will graduate in June with a degree in gender studies. Her immediate post-graduation plans include interning at “The Players’ Tribune” and working with women affected by domestic violence.
Ohashi and Kondos Field have received many requests for her time but have put those off until after the season so they won’t interfere with her amateur status.
“What other time in life are you going to have 20 girls behind you in everything you do? But if we had another year, would we take it? Most likely not,” Ohashi said. “I think we both have given everything to the sport and have made the most out of what we have. It’s really cool that we get to walk out together.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

UP NEXT

Thunder Cap Incredible Season by Beating Pacers for NBA Title

UP NEXT

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

UP NEXT

The Secret to Finding the Best Travel Bargains

UP NEXT

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

UP NEXT

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get a 400% Pay Raise

UP NEXT

It’s Final. No Live Horse Racing at Big Fresno Fair in 2025

UP NEXT

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

UP NEXT

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

UP NEXT

Canseco, Cheechoo to Sign Autographs When Chukchansi Cuts Ribbon on Top Golf

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

7 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

7 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

7 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

7 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

7 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

7 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

7 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

7 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

8 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

8 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

5 hours ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
5 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
6 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

7 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
7 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
7 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
7 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend