There couldn’t have been a better weekend for gymnastics fans. In front of a sold-out Huntsman Center, Utahns got the two biggest gifts of the season. First, the Red Rocks hosted UCLA for the regular season finale and gave them a run for their money. And just like that, they shut the critics up who said they didn’t have national title-winning potential. And second, well, a much-loved senior shed light on her future whereabouts. And let’s just say, she’s not leaving the Red Rocks yet! Yes, you heard it right!

Yes! You heard that. Utah gymnastics senior Grace McCallum wraps up her career as a senior this season. And even the thought of her leaving the side was sending chills down the fans’ spines. But not anymore because after thrashing the Bruins for a defeat, she announced that she’ll be back for the 2026 season as a student coach. And in her mind, it was obvious all this while, “I feel like coaching has always been something that’s been in the back of my mind, and who better to learn from than these amazing coaches here?” But here’s what the Head Coach, Carly Dockendorf had to say.

In the post-meet conference, posted on University of Utah Athletics on their YouTube two days back, Head Coach Dockendorf said, “She’s just so caring and um compassionate and to be able to have her come back and share her experiences I mean it’s not like she had a super easy journey.” Indeed, the coach has a point. In February 2023, University of Utah gymnast Grace McCallum suffered a knee injury, a hyperextension, during a vault competition. Ever since, she had to even struggle to get back to full capacity. She was initially scared of the landings and started with an easier routine, before switching back to the Yurchenko 1.5 that had left her injured.

But experience? She’s got a lot in that department. 4 full years of collegiate competition, that’s huge. Also, a Tokyo Olympian, she’s competed alongside star athletes like Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and the rest of the lot. Thus, the coach even added that the juniors would be lucky to get her insights, “I mean, she has had to work for everything that she has gotten, and she’s going to be able to share that with her team next year, and to be there, you know, be there for those fresh, be there for those seniors, and to really help our staff continue to improve and grow as well.”

Well, we know what you’re probably thinking. We can’t help but notice a pattern here. Just like Utah gymnastics’ Maile O’Keefe did last season, Grace McCallum seems to be following in her footsteps. After 4 years of competing, Maile joined as a student coach this term. And McCallum was similarly offered to do that next year. She said, “When I was offered the opportunity to come back a fifth year to coach—how could I say no?”  And right before she went out, she showed us why exactly she got this offer. What’s so special about her?

Utah Gymnastics soared to a win while McCallum earned a perfect 10

While Utah Gymnastics ended their regular season on a high, Grace McCallum faced her former teammate Jordan Chiles and ended up having the upper hand. That’s because McCallum scored the first perfect 10 of her career on the balance beam. Her routine comprised perfect double and triple wolf turns, and a very difficult yet gracefully performed routine. It led the entire arena of 15,000 people to erupt with joy and stand up for an ovation.

Well, Mc’Callum has always been good on the beam, but she was overshadowed by her previous teammates Maile and Abby Paulson, the beam queens. But today, as McCallum aced her routine, Dockendorf said, “You couldn’t ask for more on Senior Night.” The coach also added, “She has worked for that, and she deserves that, and I’m just so excited that happened tonight for her.”

Whereas the gymnastics star herself confessed after her perfect 10 feat, “I just felt really grateful to have had gotten a 10 on senior day.” It was a full-circle moment for her after 4 years of collegiate competition.