On January 19, Aly Raisman re-entered gymnastics in a stellar comeback. The new sports analyst on ESPN gave fans a treat by commentating alongside John Roethlisberger at the Kentucky vs. LSU game. With vast knowledge and expertise, the three-time Olympic medalist gave insightful perspectives on the show-topping NCAA game.

However, a moment stood out when she raised and called for a historic change within elite gymnastics. And this found strong support from none other than the reigning queen of gymnastics, Simone Biles‘ coach.

Aly Raisman’s advocacy gets applauded by Simone Biles’ coach

In a post on X by SEC Network/ESPN/ABC Commentator Kathy Johnson Clarke (@kathyjohnsongym), she commended Aly Raisman for raising an important point at the Kentucky vs. LSU game. She wrote, “I am with you, @Aly_Raisman! Bring back the lunge on floor in elite gymnastics! For aesthetics and injury prevention!” Kathy Johnson Clarke also shared that it contributes to the choreography’s overall flow, smoothing the routine.

To further show support for the Olympian Raisman, her former teammate Simone Biles’ coach joined in to support the historic change. Cécile Landi wrote in the comments, “I am with you both,” hoping a change is soon made in elite gymnastics as well. The excitement surrounding Aly Raisman’s call for change was matched only by the thrilling showdown between Kentucky and LSU.

The LSU Tigers vs. the Kentucky Wildcats

On January 19, the LSU Tigers faced off against the Kentucky Wildcats at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center In front of 12,331 fans, they had a big win in their first SEC meet of the season. They scored 198.125 points, the country’s highest score so far. This victory was also special because it marked the 50th win for their head coach, Jay Clark. On vault, LSU started strong with a season-high score of 49.525. Haleigh Bryant finished this rotation with an impressive score of 9.975.

Read more: “Takes More Than Knowledge”: As Aly Raisman Begins ESPN Journey, Former Olympian’s Career Shift Sparks Debate on Her Credentials

On the uneven bars, the team continued to score 49.450. Haleigh Bryant, known for her perfect 10 scores, got another perfect score in this rotation. After some struggles in previous meets on the balance beam LSU did well, scoring 49.425. Then, on floor exercise, the team finished with a bang, earning 49.725, the highest score in the nation and the third-highest in school history. This epic performance, coupled with the insightful commentary from Olympic legend Aly Raisman, undeniably heightened the excitement of the 2024 NCAA gymnastics season.

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