The new gymnastics season started with a blast for LSU, but moving in, things are getting a bit competitive. LSU has had one of its tough days getting deeper in the season; they had a rough one on January 11, 2025, losing to Oklahoma in a super close meet (Oklahoma 197.950, LSU 197.650). That sting from their first loss of the season? Yeah, it was real. But here’s the thing—amidst the disappointment, there’s a serious bright spot. Freshman Kailin Chio. The team might have taken an L, but she stepped up and gave us all something to be excited about for the future.

It was a tough match, not gonna lie. LSU had to go head-to-head with powerhouse teams like Oklahoma, California, and Utah. Still, Chio kept shining like a star. Scoring a solid 9.950 on the vault? She was one of the highlights of the meet. It was clear that even though the team didn’t get the win, Chio’s performances gave fans hope for what’s to come. The future’s looking good with her leading the way. The official Instagram page of LSU Gymnastics (@lsugym) shared the glimpses in collaboration with Kailin Chio, captioning the post as “And she’s just a freshman…9.95.”

So yeah, LSU didn’t come out on top, but Chio was honestly a huge factor in keeping the team’s head up. Her floor score was insane—9.95. She was on fire, and her energy was infectious. All throughout the meet, whether it was bars, beam, or floor, she kept it together, even when things got tough. LSU might have lost, but thanks to her, the team stayed competitive and showed they’ve got some serious potential going forward.

Chio’s performance during the meet was like a ray of sunshine during a storm. The Tigers were up against some major competition, but her consistency made sure that even with the loss, fans were still hyped for what’s next; for most of them, Chio already did a 10. Imagine if Chio can perform this well as a freshman; the sky’s the only limit for what she can do for LSU Gymnastics. And we’re all in for it!!

Kailin Chio—a seasoned freshman!

Let’s just say Chio has already tuned herself as a vibe. She came in and made an exceptional mark. We’re talking about setting the bar high with a 39.625 all-around score in her debut, officially the highest in LSU history. Chio tied with Aleah Finnegan, the all-around senior on balance beam and bars, with outstanding scores of 9.925 and 9.900. LSU Gymnastics and Chio collaborated on an Instagram post, breaking the news last week. And she did it as a freshman. Let that sink in.

Before LSU, Kailin Chio was already a big deal. The accolades she stacked up in her junior career were no joke. 7-time National Champion! The Snowflake Signature Athlete, damn!! In the 2021 U.S. Classic, Chio won a silver medal in the all-around—a performance that marked her as one of the top gymnasts in the nation. She also claimed gold in the all-around, vault, and uneven bars at the 2021 American Classic and helped the U.S. National Team earn gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Competition.

In 2023, she collected multiple perfect scores and finished first in the Nastia Liukin Cup. Wow! Kailin has trained under Cassie Rice and Jill Preston at Gymcats. Now, as a freshman, she’s hitting the ground running and showing the world that she’s here to stay. If this is just her first year, imagine how insane she’s going to be in the next few seasons.

The thing that stands out most about Chio? She’s so consistent. Freshman year jitters? Doesn’t look like she’s getting them. Every time she steps onto the mat, she brings it, no matter what event she’s doing. Whether it’s vault, bars, or floor, she’s been knocking it out of the park. That 9.950 vault score? Top tier. Don’t even get me started. She’s already performing like someone who’s been in the game for years.

Looking ahead, Chio’s future at LSU is looking seriously exciting. And honestly, as LSU looks to bounce back from that loss to Oklahoma, having Chio on their side is a game-changer. If she keeps rising like this, the team will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the next few seasons. She’s going to be a big part of LSU’s future, no question about it. Are you excited for her as much as we are? Let us know in the comments below!