In the world of gymnastics, names do not come much bigger than Simone Biles.
So for the USA athlete to single out Amari Drayton for credit over social media sensation Olivia Dunne, it would need to be something quite spectacular.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist knows what it takes to produce a special routine under pressure and Drayton delivered the goods when the Louisiana State University (LSU) freshman performed at the annual Gym 101.
At the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Friday, January 5, the LSU Gymnasts made a strong impression ahead of the 2024 season by showcasing 50 routines.
Drayton was only a last-minute replacement for one of her injured team-mates, but she stepped up to the plate in her first bars routine and finished with an impressive score of 9.925 – helping LSU beat Ohio State.
Taking to social media, Biles, 26, wrote on X: “That’s our girl, so proud of you amari.”
Simone Biles ignores Olivia Dunne
The excitement for the No. 3 LSU Tigers gymnastics team is usually generated whenever Olivia Dunne taking the mat.
Having graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and featuring in Forbes, Dunne is a global phenomenon already, with her mind-blowing tricks and flips always catching the eye.
But it was clear that during this particular close contest, the spotlight was focused on Drayton after her decisive routine and rightly so, with her coach Jay Clark praising her incredible display.
“We got to see a freshman do something spectacular,” he said, according to NOLA. “Amari came through for us. It was also a brand new vault she’d never done [scoring another 9.925] and she didn’t know she was going in until after beam and got a 9.925.”
Speaking about her performance, Drayton stated that she was happy to have been given the chance to compete, saying: “It didn’t feel real. I was just really happy I got to compete out there.”
The LSU gymnasts will be back on the mat for the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad meet in West Valley City, Utah.
