“It Can Bite Sometimes”: Shattered NCAA Oklahoma Gymnast Receive Retired Legend Kathy Johnson Clarke’s Much Needed Words of Motivation

In a shocking turn of events, the powerhouse Oklahoma gymnastics team has faced a stunning collapse, failing to advance to the NCAA final. The Oklahoma squad, with six NCAA team titles in the past decade and consistent high scores, has been a dominant force in gymnastics, never scoring below 197.7750 this season. 

The Oklahoma Sooners, the dominant team in NCAA women’s gymnastics this season, suffered a series of errors on Thursday night and shockingly failed to advance to the national semifinals. American sports commentator Kathy Johnson Clarke offered heartfelt support and motivation to the shattered Oklahoma gymnastics team after their defeat through a social media post.

Kathy Johnson Clarke’s encouraging words about Oklahoma’s NCAA gymnastics final miss

Throughout the 2024 NCAA women’s gymnastics season, the University of Oklahoma Sooners’ dominance has been an undeniable certainty, consistently showcasing greatness as the top-ranked team. Despite a strong rally on the uneven bars with a total score of 49.6625, Oklahoma faced a crushing setback in the third rotation. On this defeat, Kathy Johnson Clarke, Olympic World Champion on the balance beam, has shared a heartfelt message on her X account supporting the team: “Life is a balance beam. And it can bite sometimes. Hard. But you get back up because life goes on and depends on your resilient spirit.” The Oklahoma Sooners found themselves in need of support and motivation. This came in the form of retired gymnast Kathy Johnson Clarke, whose heartfelt words uplifted the team in their moment of despair.

Her status as a retired legend in the sport added weight to her words, resonating deeply with the athletes. She was saddened by the defeat of the Oklahoma team in Fort Worth, Texas, as the squad finished with just 48.325 total, more than the point made from the previous season average. Their total score of 48.325 was over a point below their season average. Oklahoma Coach K.J. Kindler said after the match on ESPN, “This was character-building for this team,” continuing, “They fought back hard. It was emotional. I give them all the credit for gutting it out through the whole end of it. It was tough.”

Further, Kindler acknowledges that the Oklahoma Sooners, like everyone else, are humans. Despite enjoying a decade of success, they’ve earned it through hard work. However, they recognize that unforeseen events can occur at any time, as seen in recent events. Throughout the entire year, they hadn’t tallied a fall. From their unparalleled consistency to their championship titles, the Oklahoma Gymnastics Team has carved a legacy of excellence that few can match.

Unrivaled success: Reflecting on the Oklahoma Gymnastics Team’s historic achievements

According to Road to Nationals, the Oklahoma Sooners have achieved 11 of the country’s top 20 scores this season. This feat marks the highest number of top 20 scores for any team since 1998, when the website began recording data. The 2016 Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team embraced the mantra “Make it Count,” delivering a stellar performance at the NCAA Championship in Fort Worth and clinching their second program title with a score of 197.6750. They also scored 443.400 points to conclude their second consecutive undefeated season and secure their 10th NCAA championship in program history.

Kathy Johnson Clarke’s words of motivation have served as a beacon of hope and resilience for the shattered Oklahoma gymnastics team. Her support underscores the enduring spirit of camaraderie and determination within the gymnastics community, inspiring the team to rise above and continue striving for excellence in the future.