“This is the best way I can end my career, and to be with Mizzou, they were the best team to rotate with.” With those words, Mya Hooten closed the curtain on her NCAA gymnastics journey. There were no grand announcements or flashy routines created for farewell flair. Just heart, grit, and a return to what made fans fall in love with her in the first place, that iconic sophomore-year floor routine. For her final meet, Hooten brought it back. Not just as a tribute to her own legacy, but as a way of reclaiming her roots in the sport one last time.

But her farewell wasn’t just a celebration. It was also a reckoning. Long before the scores, the standing ovations, and the viral performances, Mya Hooten was fighting for something far more fundamental: her scholarship. In high school, she was caught in a storm few knew about. Struggling to balance grades, gymnastics, and the crushing weight of real-life responsibilities, her dreams were slipping. By the end of junior year, Gophers coach Jenny Hansen had to deliver the hardest truth, Mya was on the verge of becoming academically ineligible, and her scholarship, her lifeline, was about to vanish.

B1G Gymnastics took to Instagram with a caption that said it all: “We couldn’t have said it better 😊 Congrats on a wonderful career, @myahooten__.” Alongside the tribute was a video that captured the emotion of Mya Hooten’s final moments as a collegiate gymnast. The footage showed her tearfully embracing her head coach, soaking in the love from teammates and fans alike. “Very emotional,” Hooten said. “After I saw my head coach, she had tears in her eyes, and I just—I was so grateful to have her for five years… the coaching staff, the training support staff, everybody. It’s just been the best five years of my life.”

While her team didn’t make it to nationals this time, Hooten qualified as an individual and, in true Mya style, made every second count. “It was awesome,” she said of competing without her usual squad. “They were so fun and took me in as a teammate, so I’m blessed.” Her grace, power, and humility reminded everyone why she’s been a fan favorite for five seasons. Even in her final NCAA moment, Mya Hooten wasn’t just about personal glory. And when asked, what’s next? She smiled, “I’m not sure yet. Maybe coaching. Maybe, I don’t know.” Whatever she chooses, her legacy is already sealed in gold.

Because make no mistake. Mya Hooten is a legend. A Big Ten champion. A school-record holder with nine perfect 10s. An All-American. An Academic All-Big Ten honoree every single season. And she’s doing all this while working toward her master’s degree at the Carlson School of Management. Her floor routines turned the Maturi Pavilion into a thunderdome, night after night. But what makes her story even more remarkable is how close it all came to never happening. Back in high school, life was unraveling. But she fought. She climbed. And in the end, she danced her way into history.

Mya Hooten’s final routine closes the chapter with purpose

Just a few years ago, Mya Hooten’s life looked nothing like the poised, powerhouse gymnast we’ve come to know. A Reddit post from r/gymnastics unearthed the reality behind her rise. One filled with turbulence, responsibility, and sacrifice. After her parents’ divorce, Hooten had to help raise her little sister while juggling academics and a burning passion for gymnastics. But fitting into club culture didn’t come easy. Her straightforward nature made her an outsider in most gyms. That is, until Coach Bryon Hough at Classic Gymnastics saw something in her and gave her a chance. Hooten went all in, but even then, her academics threatened to derail everything.

Midway through her junior year, the unthinkable nearly happened. Her scholarship at the University of Minnesota was on the verge of being revoked. That’s when Sarah and Matt Zeiher, complete strangers at the time, did something extraordinary. They opened their home to her. Hooten moved in, the Zeihers adapted, and slowly, her life began to steady. In one of the most emotional exchanges of her life, Mya told them, “I’ll never be able to repay you.” With their support and the drive that never left her, she rewrote her future. From that near miss, she didn’t just recover. She soared.

Now, with her final NCAA floor routine behind her and her legacy firmly etched into the sport, Hooten’s story has come full circle. One of the most decorated collegiate gymnasts in America, her farewell is more than just the end of a chapter. It’s a celebration of how far heart, help, and hustle can take you. The gymnastics world isn’t just applauding her medals; they’re honoring a journey of survival and relentless belief.