The 2024 NCAA Gymnastics season has been nothing short of a carnival. Since all the college teams couldn’t be sheltered in one place, the week-long event was divided into regions. Popularly known as the NCAA Regional Championships, the final Championship springboard had the best of the LSU Tigers. They dominated the Fayetteville, Arkansas Final on Saturday, April 6, and secured a seat at the NCAA Semifinals. But with this celebration, sad news looms.

Kathy Johnson was one of the most well-known gymnasts of her time. Now 64, the then-artistic gymnast represented the US in the 1984 Olympic Games. Though she retired early, her deep-rooted gymnastic knowledge needed a medium to transpire. She transitioned to television and joined as a sports commentator with ESPN and ABC-TV later. But is she calling it off now?

Are NCAA Gymnastics disparities behind Kathy Johnson’s retirement?

On Reddit, under “NCAA Discussion Posts | Regionals | Sunday 04/07/24”, the links to the latest schedule hinted at Clarke’s exit too. A while ago, fans tried to figure out the reason. Disregarding the speculations, the 64-year-old wrote on X, “To be clear, I’m not quitting broadcasting because of judging or nonsensical scores that don’t align with or reflect the Code of Points, making it obsolete. I am retiring because I am being retired as irrelevant, a relic from the past”. Controversies regarding unfair NCAA judging have been brewing for a while now. In the last season, athletes were handed over with 84 perfect scores, as well as inflation in team scores. Witnessing these from the commentator’s box may have drawn a line to her journey.

NCAA Discussion Posts | Regionals | Sunday 04/07/24
byu/GymMod inGymnastics

Since Johnson Clarke had a wide area under her control, none other than Aly Raisman could replace her. Raisman, 29, a part of the gymnastics ‘Famous Five’ in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will step in as an analyst in the NCAA Gymnastics broadcast. She rang in her New Year by signing off a deal with ESPN. Let’s see what fans have to say about these ongoings.

Fans disheartened over Johnson’s retirement

One fan wrote, “Kathy… I hope you see this thread. You are amazing, you are wonderful, and you cannot be replaced!”, placing her above all. Another fan couldn’t register that Kathy Johnson would be absent in the Nationals. “She deserved one more nationals!” With ‘Now I’m really crying. Kathy is gymnastics royalty”, another person chimed in.

Another kind fan wished to see Kathy bidding farewell ceremoniously. Wrote, “This being Kathy’s last meet makes it so sad they didn’t get to be there..” One emotional fan saw the bright side of her retirement and said, “I’m glad this masterpiece is the last meet she called”. With no negative feelings towards the former Olympian, fans truly demonstrated her rightful place.

READ MORE: Following the Same Career As Legend, Aly Raisman Pens Beautiful Letter to Olympian Kathy Johnson Clarke