Just a day ago, LSU’s freshman gymnastics sensation bagged her second straight SEC Gymnastics Award, sharing the spotlight with junior Ashley Cowan, as the league proudly announced on Tuesday. Hailing from Henderson, Nevada, this rising star was named the Co-Freshman of the Week of the SEC after delivering her career-best all-around mark of 39.625 in aiding the Tigers in their performance in the Sprouts Collegiate Quad in Oklahoma City.

Kailin Chio lit up the meet with jaw-dropping scores—9.950 on vault, 9.900 on bars, 9.850 on beam, and a stunning 9.925 on floor. While Chio shares this honor with Oklahoma’s Lily Pederson, she’s made it clear she’s a force to be reckoned with, nabbing back-to-back SEC Freshman accolades after just two collegiate meets. And now, LSU’s freshman phenom reveals what it’s like to be a back-to-back NCAA gymnastics champion.

In a heartfelt video shared by LSU Sports on YouTube on January 15, Kailin Chio discussed the mixed feelings she experienced after receiving her second consecutive SEC Freshman of the Week title. When asked how it felt, she honestly replied, “Honestly, I didn’t know until like a few hours ago—not even a few hours ago—but it’s just an honor.” With her new badge pinned to her chest with joy and a signal of shyness, she said, “I don’t know if I can really put it into words.”

When asked about her experience, Chio explained her attitude towards the sport and stated, “I guess just the awards itself are just something that I never really came into just like, ‘Oh, I want to get this kind of thing.’” However, her concern has always been the team, as she said, “I just been trying to do what’s best for my team and doing it for them and not just myself.”

The recognition, however, acts as an incentive for the young gymnastics star. “I think that getting it is really motivating for me, knowing that like my hard work’s paying off,” she further said. But Chio didn’t lose her footing; instead, she reminded everyone what it is all about in gymnastics. “At the end of the day, it’s not really that’s what matters. It’s what matters at the end in April,” she said, clearly not wanting to lose sight of the larger picture or the team’s objectives.

The last time LSU Gymnastics took the floor on January 11, they gave the fans what they wanted and set records in the process. The No. 2 Tigers improved to 3-1, setting the program’s record for the highest score in a road opener with a 197.650 at the second annual Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Meet at Paycom Center. As much as they tried to resist, the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners managed to outdo them with a score of 197.950.

Meanwhile, No. 6 California placed third with a score of 197.275 and No. 4 Utah rounded out the competition with a score of 196.800. But let’s get down to business—this LSU gymnastics star who’s already getting attention and winning fans as a freshman. From jaw-dropping routines to standout scores, she’s turning her first season into a headline act.

LSU gymnastics star shines as a freshman!

Well, let’s just say Kailin Chio is the vibe. She arrived at LSU and right away she raised the roof. Dropping a jaw-dropping 39.625 all-around score in her first meet, she did not just make an impression but created an impact as a freshman for LSU. She equaled a score of 9.925 and 9.900 with senior powerhouse Aleah Finnegan on beam and bars. And yep, LSU Gymnastics and Kailin Chio did not take a lot of time in sharing this mic-drop moment on Instagram. Freshman status? Who is she fooling? This girl is already a legend.

Before LSU, Chio’s junior career was straight-up iconic. A 7-time National Champion and a Snowflake Signature Athlete, we do not think we need to say more about this talented young man. She won silver at the 2021 U.S. Classic and followed that up with all-around, vault, and uneven bars gold at the American Classic the same year. Fast forward to 2023, she was collecting perfect tens as if collecting trading cards, and to crown it up, she won the Nastia Liukin Cup.

What’s wild is how consistent she’s been right out of the gate. From her 9.950 on vault to the all-around, she continues to show she is the backbone of LSU’s lineup. For the Lady Tigers, who are seeking to come back from their recent defeat to Oklahoma, having Kailin Chio on their side is such a boost. If she’s already this good, then one can only look forward to what she is capable of in the future.