Though the Iowa gymnastics team fell short of an appearance at the national championship, one Gymhawk did earn a chance to perform. Following a consistent season and a perfect 10 score, sophomore Aurélie Tran led the school solo in the bars event at the national championship on the individual level, ultimately earning a runner-up finish.
Tran was Iowa’s first individual competitor at the national championship since Adeline Kenlin in 2022 and the first on the bars event since Alexis Maday back in 2003.
“It feels amazing. I feel just great to push those barriers and achieve new things,” Tran said.
Her path to the national championship starts well back in the regular season. Tran over the 11 regular season meets averaged a 9.900 and did not score lower than 9.850 on bars. She also competed as an all-around competitor in all four events this season, earning a career high score in the all-around during Iowa’s last home meet of the season.
“I feel like just getting the opportunity to improve at every meet is something I looked forward to,” Tran said. “And after every meet, we have a film review session, which has allowed me to catch the little details I can work to improve on.”
But really, where Tran excelled was in the postseason. During the Hawkeyes’ meet in the Big Ten tournament, she led the Hawkeyes to a fifth-place finish while taking home a first-place finish herself on the bars event with a five-way tie at 9.950.
Tran did not stop there, and with her team at the NCAA Regionals second round meet, she scored Iowa’s first perfect 10 on the bars event, finally breaking Maday’s 9.975 record set back in 2004.
That perfect 10 score qualified her as an individual competitor for the next round in the national championship despite the team failing to qualify for the next round together. Representing Iowa on the national stage was a special opportunity to her, though she did miss her fellow Gymhawks who had been cheering her on all season long from the sidelines.
“It was a great experience, and I wish my team was there with me, and that is definitely a goal for next year,” Tran said.
Despite being the only representative for the Hawkeyes at the national championship, Tran kept her mind locked on the gymnastics part that she had been doing all season long. Though Tran did have to wait till the very last rotation and performance, as she was partnered with the Minnesota team on the bars event.
Very similar to her Regional performance, Tran swung, flew, and landed with almost no imperfections, resulting in a 9.9750, just missing the first-place award, which was given to Florida’s senior Riley McCusker with a 9.9875.
With no fellow Gymhawks to celebrate with her, the Golden Gophers stepped up into that position, taking Tran into their group and team, cheering her on as she performed and celebrating with her afterwards.
“It felt so amazing. They were so nice to me and supported me very similarly to how my own teammates would, with giving me a pep talk before and even setting up my bars for me,” Tran said.
But Tran was not alone; her fellow Gymhawks came together in Iowa City, watching their fellow Gymhawk perform on the national stage as a representative of all of them. Seeing Tran compete on the national level by herself had an inspirational impact on her fellow Gymhawks, both new and veteran.
“We were cheering at the TV when she was performing and knew she was going to do just as well as she did,” sophomore Sydney Turner said. “She showed us that with hard work and dedication, we can get to the national championship because she is proof of that.”
Tran’s commitment this season has been a proud and successful accomplishment. Even her coach’s note is a unique and perfect example of her leadership as a competitor, seeing her as a role model to the next generation of Gymhawks already in the program and still sitting in the stands.
“She is such a great example to our freshmen because she stays humble, doesn’t get too high or too low,” head coach Jen Llewellyn said. “She genuinely loves gymnastics, and she is a great representative for our fans, young girls, and future gymnasts who look up to her.”
Even though Tran has had so much success this early in her career, she still hopes to improve not just on bars but in her other events. She is even taking the time this offseason to better her skills competing on the world elite level with Team Canada and moving to next year with high hopes and a humble perspective on her career.
“I am ready for the challenging transition from college gymnastics to the elite level, but I know the transition back will be much easier,” Tran said. “I think I do better when I put less pressure on myself, so I think focusing on next year alone will be something I do.”