Reigning NCAA Champion Scores First 10 of Gymnastics 2024 Season- Meet Maile O’Keefe

For gymnastics athletes around the world, matching the footsteps of the legendary Nadia Comaneci is always something to aspire for. The 1976 Montreal Olympics will forever remain an iconic moment in sports history thanks to Comaneci’s first Perfect 10 score in gymnastics history. While the feat is incredibly rare, the reigning NCAA champ might be on the right path to replicate the Romanian’s stunning achievements.

The 2024 gymnastics season has just begun and the reigning champ has already set the benchmark high. After competing neck-to-neck against Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles last season, the Utah Red Rocks star looks on top of her game as she looks to bring more challenges to the national sensation.

Reigning NCAA champ “needs no introduction”

In the last season of the NCAA gymnastics championship, Jordan Chiles was outshined by only the 16-time All-American Maile O’Keefe on the balance beam and the All-Around rankings. Maile did not seem to lose steam this year as well. In a recent post on X, by the official Gymnastic Now account, O’Keefe can be witnessed in all her glory on the balance beam once again as she bagged the “first perfect 10 of the season.”

Displaying her skills at their absolute height, Maile prompts the commentator to recognize her prowess. “One of the best in the country…needs no introduction“, states the commentator without any hesitation. “Just beautiful to watch,” says another commentator as O’Keefe lays out a perfect aerial layout. Her perfect landing on the beam made even O’Keefe squeeze out a happy smirk as the crowd applauded enthusiastically.

The commentator also said that Maile’s style to connect the aerial layout with the landing was impressive and we couldn’t agree more. A perfect landing on the floor after a spectacular routine sealed her scores as she kept asking questions for those to follow and the picture-perfect landing made the commentator gush, “I don’t know where you take deductions“. With this performance, once again the limelight turns to the future stars of American gymnastics.

The gymnastics sky ablaze with young talents

O’Keefe claimed a fair share of the applause in last year’s NCAA tournament with the rivalry with Jordan Chiles. O’Keefe took home the All-Around title and a perfect 10 in balanced beam. On the other hand, Chiles clinched the gold medals for her performance on the uneven bars with a perfect 10 and the floor exercises with a score of 9.9875. The difference between their scores was only 0.59 points. Recently, the GOAT of gymnastics rooted for another young gun.

Read more: Ignoring Friendly Advice, Jordan Chiles’ Mother Scars Herself For Life In Hilarious Update

Simone Biles shared fellow LSU Tiger Amari Draton’s exceptional debut performance at the PMAC and it looks brilliant. With a score of 9.925, Drayton might well be on her path to being Biles’ national teammate soon. And American gymnastics looks to be in safe hands.

Watch this story: SIMONE BILES’ BEYOND TWISTIES: THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND HER MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY