NCAA Gymnastics Championship: Despite Losing, Chloe Widner and Stanford Team Certify Their Legacy

NCAA Gymnastics in on cloud nine right now. Starting from LSU making resounding victories to Chloe Widner upholding the Ivy League Stanford’s legacy.Chloe Widner of Stanford clinched dual victories at the NCAA regional finals, achieving her first career perfect 10.000 in the floor routine and contributing significantly to her team’s success in NCAA Gymnastics Championship.

Chloe Widner’s outstanding performance not only led Stanford to the NCAA championships for the first time since 2016 but also marked them as the first unseeded team to qualify for nationals since the new format was introduced in 2019. However, Chloe Widner and Co ended third in the semi-finals session 1 at the 2024 NCAA Championships. Though a gut-wrenching loss, this doesn’t dent their sheen one bit, as was apparent by Widner’s joy on her X handle.

NCAA gymnastics championship witness phoenixes rising from the ashes 

On X, Chloe Widner shared the score of Stanford advancing to third place, “we went 52nd — > 5th in one season”. She shared her excitement through the X despite her losing. Stanford’s Chloe Widner’s persistence in earning two perfect 10s and leading Stanford’s team overcoming her injuries and achieving monumental success was noteworthy. Chloe won the all-title with a score of 39.700 at the Berkley Regional in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Gymnast Championship on April 5, 2024, adding another feather to her star-studded cap. Stanford’s Women’s Gymnastics 2024 ends with third place, spearheaded by sophomore Anna Roberts’ NCAA Vault Championship title, finishing third. They will not be participating at Saturday’s championship meet but have their place enshrined in 2025 at the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Stanford scored a total of 197.0750, whereas LSU and California scored 198.1125 and 197.7125 respectively, earning first and second place. Stanford’s entry at the semifinals was historic, as they kicked off this session on bars and showed toughness early. The Cardinals fought to a total of 49.2500 in the event, led by scores of 9.8875 by Roberts and lead off junior Anapaula Gutierrez. Senior Ira Alexeeva added a 9.8500, junior Brenna Neault posted a 9.8250, and fifth-year Chloe Widner anchored the rotation with a 9.8000. Stanford’s 2024 season had ended in Fort Worth, alas, but this isn’t their final run. Greener pastures await them. Widner, however, was the showstopper.

Chloe Widner’s resilience: Navigating injuries in Stanford’s gymnastics journey

This season, Chloe Widner has defined her journey with Stanford’s gymnastics team through resilience and determination. During a meet against Arizona on January 27, Widner suffered an ankle injury during warmups, a moment she describes as “sobering.” Initially uncertain about the severity of the injury, she was limited to competing only on bars for four weeks. However, her determination drove her recovery, and on February 23, she made a triumphant return to beam and floor routines. Widner said, “If you look back at our meets in the past, we have hit events very, very well,” continuing, “We just haven’t been able to put it all together because we have had some people out.” 

Key athletes’ return boosts team confidence and scores, culminating in a record-breaking 197.975 on senior night, the second-highest in Stanford’s history. Widner joyously exclaimed, “I think we finally hit our stride.” Stanford’s late-season consistency secured upsets against ranked teams Auburn and Denver, earning them a spot in the national semifinals among the final eight teams contending for the NCAA title. Stanford Women’s Gymnastics will now be looking to tackle 2025 with resolute determination, hoping to dominate the year.