Just three months into 2020 and the world seemed to be shutting down. Schools closed, and classes were moved online. Gyms had to temporarily close. Competitions and meets were canceled. The gymnastics season was suddenly over for club and NCAA. Everyone’s lives were suddenly changing. There were new adjustments to be made all around.

When Ellie Black landed her final tumbling pass during last March’s American Cup, her feet were firmly planted on the mat, but in many ways, she was flying—and flying high. 

For many gymnasts, 2020 was the year that signified the end of an Olympic journey and the beginning of a life outside of gymnastics. Before the pandemic hit, Akash Modi was finally coming to terms with being done with the sport he loves for good. After hopefully competing at the 2020 Olympic Games, he planned to be done and move on. That plan obviously came crashing down with the postponement of the games, and at first, Modi wasn’t even sure he would continue.

Senior Michigan gymnast Annie Maxim hasn’t had the typical college experience. Her story of landing the senior captain role is relatively unknown but I was lucky enough to catch up with Annie on her time in college gymnastics, transferring, the University of Michigan, being a leader, and her monumental comeback.

Though 2020 had fewer gymnastics meets than years past, there were still a ton of memorable moments this year. Here’s a look back at the top gym moments of 2020 in no particular order -  the good, the bad, and the...dare we say...unprecedented. 

Whether they're attempting new trends, showing off skills in the gym, or practicing their favorite viral dances, we love to watch our favorite gymnasts on TikTok. Let us know who we missed and still need to follow!

Aleah Finnegan remembers watching Carlos Yulo make history at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Yulo won bronze on floor exercise in Doha, making him the first Philippine gymnast to medal at a World Championships.

Morgan Hurd keeps her pronouns (she/her) in her bio, encourages everyone to wear a mask, and doesn’t shy away from sharing her opinions on social justice topics, even while she launches into the public eye as her career intensifies. Hurd speaks out about many social issues, especially ones that affect marginalized communities.

Shane Wiskus dealt with his fair share of setbacks this year, but it hasn’t changed his goals. No matter what stands in his path, he has his sights set on Tokyo 2021. 

Best known for her accomplishments inside the gym, since her retirement from the sport Aly Raisman has made strides to leave a different kind of legacy in gymnastics. Besides her six Olympic medals, four World Championships medals, and numerous other successes, Raisman wants the sport to remember her for the change she created within it. 

After a disappointing end to her most recent competition season, the 2020 Coronavirus meet cancellations were even more shocking for Leanne Wong, who was left with something to prove. 

Chellsie Memmel is just like any other elite gymnast working for a spot on the 2021 Tokyo Olympic team...oh, except that she’s 32, married with two kids, coming back out of retirement after eight years off...and a few other differences. 

This year is a disappointing time for all sports fans, and gymnastics fans are no exception. After months of canceled meets, pushing back the Olympics, and training centers on lockdown, the latest 2020 gymnastics disappointment is multiple NCAA programs cutting their gymnastics teams. William & Mary cut both their men’s and women’s gymnastics teams in early September, just the latest of many announcements this year about cutting teams. 

Ten billion, three hundred fifty-seven million, one hundred forty-nine thousand, fifty-one dollars. 

It's been quite some time since we saw Chellsie Memmel in action.