Florida Gymnastics Makes a Strong Start to the 2026 Season

Florida Gymnastics has made a powerful statement in the 2026 season, securing consecutive victories and climbing to the top of the rankings. The Gators have taken the No. 1 spot in the country according to the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association. This achievement marks a significant rise from their preseason ranking of No. 3, where they had 1,804 points and four first-place votes.

The Gators’ success came after a quad-meet victory that propelled them to the top for the first time since 2021. They followed this with a close win over No. 4 Alabama, led by senior All-American Selena Harris-Miranda for the second week in a row. With high expectations for the season, the team is bolstered by the return of national team talents Skye Blakeley and Kayla DiCello, who are recovering from Achilles injuries sustained at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Additionally, 17-year-old sophomore Ly Bui has already made a name for herself early in the season.

A Strong Start to the Season

The 2026 season kicked off on Friday, Jan. 9, with a quad-meet win over No. 24 North Carolina, Temple, and West Virginia. Florida scored a 197.725 in the Kids Night meet presented by GFL Environmental, just 0.025 points short of a program record for an opening meet.

Ly Bui showcased her talent by tying her collegiate best of 9.925, winning her first vault title. Selena Harris-Miranda set a season-high with a 9.95 on uneven bars and tied the season high of 9.975 on beam. Riley McCusker and Kayla DiCello also delivered standout performances on uneven bars, scoring 9.95 and 9.90 respectively. Jayla Booker made her collegiate debut with a 9.90 on floor.

Harris-Miranda was recognized as the SEC Specialist of the Week. Head coach Jenny Rowland praised the team’s performance, stating, “The Gators showed up and showed out today. That was their intention this week. And really, we had 28 routines, and we had 28 hit routines. That’s not too bad.”

Opening SEC Schedule with a Win Over Alabama

After reaching the No. 1 spot, Florida began its SEC schedule with a thrilling 197.425-197.275 victory over No. 4 Alabama at the O’Connell Center. The match drew a crowd of more than 7,500 fans, and the competition came down to the final routine, with Florida winning or sharing three event titles.

Harris-Miranda won her second-straight balance beam title with a 9.95 and shared the vault win with a 9.925. Taylor Clark and Amelia Disidore shared the floor exercise title with two Alabama gymnasts at 9.90. Although minor errors hurt Florida on vault, the team bounced back with a season-high 49.55 on uneven bars.

Strong balance beam performances helped Florida take a one-tenth lead going into the final rotation, floor. Freshman Jayla Booker opened with a 9.875, and Disidore’s 9.90 secured the victory. Coach Rowland expressed her gratitude for the support from Gator Nation, saying, “Welcome to the SEC competition. Grateful that Gator Nation came and showed out for our team.”

Up Next

Florida’s next meet is scheduled for Jan. 23 at Auburn, which will air on the SEC Network at 8:45 p.m. ET. Following that, the Gators will host Arkansas on Jan. 30 at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2.