Avery King grew up dreaming of being an NCAA gymnast. She started gymnastics when she was three and, year after year, watched the “big girls” going through the recruiting process, signing their national letters of intent and, eventually, leaving for, and competing in, college. King wanted to be just like them.
“I thought of these girls as celebrities,” she recalled. “They were my biggest role models and inspiration. Through and through, seeing college gymnasts made in front of my own eyes really made it feel like a possibility for me.”
She excitedly watched the kick-off of her own recruiting process grow near, but when the time came this past year, she started doubting herself. “I think my biggest fear … was letting my younger self down,” she said. “This is not only my dream, but also her dream and I wanted to be sure that I made it happen.”
King’s sudden lack of confidence coincided with a period of crisis in her career. An elite gymnast who’d competed at the junior U.S. championships both in 2021 and 2022, she tried to qualify for her first senior season three times between January and March 2023. She failed on each occasion, leaving her sad, disappointed, and unmotivated.
After careful consideration, she realized that to regain…
