For the LSU gymnastics team, this year’s NCAA Championship season is one of the highest stakes, and the team is aware that nothing is possible without a flawless start toward defending the title. However, when January 11, 2025, got to a close, it felt like it was destiny pulling a switch on them. At the quad meet against Utah, California, and Oklahoma, LSU lost one of its major players due to injury. The audience held their breath when a star on the floor, who sprained her ankle, had to sit out during the fourth rotation.

However, LSU was able to shine in the moments of pressure, defeating California and Utah and pushing Oklahoma to their limits before falling short. Without KJ Johnson and Haleigh Bryant (who only competed in one event), the Tigers still roared with grit and determination. As much as it proved the depth of the team, Johnson’s absence was felt, and questions were raised across the gymnastics community.

Gymnastics community raises questions over KJ Johnson’s absence

The Gymnastics subreddit had its moment on January 11, dropping a post that perfectly captured LSU’s floor rotation to close out the meet. The lineup featured stars like Sierra Ballard, Chase Brock, Olivia Dunne, Amari Drayton, Kailin Chio, and Aleah Finnegan—but guess who wasn’t there? Yup, no KJ Johnson to finish. Using a screenshot of the post, a user chimed in with some heartfelt words, “Feel Sad for KJ, first it was internal matters during preview meet and then this.” The comment struck a chord with fans, reflecting the shared disappointment for Johnson’s rough start to the season.

Fans weren’t holding back their curiosity, especially after a user bluntly asked, “I might be a dummy, but what does ‘internal matters’ mean? Like a disciplinary thing?” Let’s rewind to December 2024, when LSU kicked off their off-season opener, and while the squad was all smiles and routines, KJ Johnson’s absence was glaring. For a gymnast who vaulted her way into every single meet last season and wowed with a season-high 9.925 at the NCAA regional finals, KJ’s MIA status was a head-scratcher. This senior-year dynamo had been a pivotal piece in LSU’s championship-winning puzzle, so not seeing her in action was, well, unsettling.

Naturally, the media had questions. When Coach Jay Clark was asked about it, his response left fans more puzzled than reassured: “KJ’s an internal matter. I don’t have much to say on that.” It wasn’t exactly the comforting clarity anyone was hoping for, leaving KJ’s loyal supporters hoping for brighter days ahead. But this was just the tip of the iceberg as many other users expressed their frustrations.

Gymternet remains concerned with the absence

Another fan jumped into the mix, echoing the curiosity while sprinkling their take on the situation. “It’s hard to believe any gymnast with their remarkable work ethic would be failing in college,” they began, emphasizing the sheer dedication these athletes pour into their craft. Sure, gymnasts aren’t immune to academic hiccups, but as the fan put it, “it would certainly be atypical.”

Then came the spicy speculation. They noted how Coach Jay Clark chose the term “internal matters” instead of something softer, like “personal matters,” which might hint at a family emergency or a mental block. “It lends more to the disciplinary action pool of thought,” they mused, throwing out a potential theory: maybe KJ racked up a few unexcused absences before the preview meet, and Jay wasn’t thrilled about it. But they made it clear they were just guessing, adding with a dash of humor, “idk (literally though, since I don’t follow 90% of NCAA gymnasts :p ).” Safe to say, the gymnastics fandom’s detective hats are firmly on!

Another fan jumped in with their own theory, bringing a totally relatable vibe to the mix. “I actually think it’s more common than you’d expect,” they began, pointing out how student-athletes are juggling a million things at once. LSU is huge on team activities, and when you factor in the hours they commit to the sport, plus friends and relationships outside the gym, it’s easy to see how the school might slide to the back burner.

The real kicker? Some classes don’t even require attendance anymore, especially in this post-COVID era. “If anything is going to fall off, it’s going to happen on the academic side,” they explained, noting how easy it is to skip a lecture and tell yourself you’ll catch up later. But that snowball can grow fast—a couple of off weeks, and suddenly you’re two or three weeks behind. “Bad grades at midterms, and there is your internal matter,” they shrugged. No judgment here, though. As they summed it up, “it’s a lot to balance,” and honestly, who couldn’t relate to that?

The drama doesn’t stop there, though, as other fans tossed out their theories. One of them said, “I read somewhere that it was somehow related to pay or something.” As for the particulars of that, we don’t know all of them, but this much we do know: KJ Johnson’s missing, and that’s a problem. After all, she was totally on fire at LSU gymnastics’ season opener on January 3rd at the Maravich Center when they played against Iowa State. KJ showed why she is such a popular gymnast and scored 9.825 on vault to put LSU in a very good position.

But fast forward to her sprained ankle update, and the reality hit—she had to sit out. As one fan put it, “Isn’t she slightly hurt?” It’s clear as day that KJ Johnson’s presence is absolutely crucial for her team, and you can bet the fans are eagerly waiting to see her back on the mat, bringing that magic back to LSU Gymnastics.