As a four-star recruit and Stanford commit in the class of 2026, Raeya Linton has overcome significant challenges to reach the highest levels of the sport. She is a two-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier and boasts impressive career highs of 10.0 on vault (she’s had four of them!), 9.900 on beam, and 9.950 on floor. Off the mat, Linton is equally driven, aspiring to become a principal concept design engineer in Formula 1 or with Porsche. Her unique commitment reveal featured a revved-up mix of engines, anime, and extra flair—just like her! Linton is built to break the mold, whether on the mat or behind the wheel.
Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Full name: Raeya Linton
Club gym: United Gymnastix
College team: Stanford University (‘25)
Hometown: Columbia, Maryland
How did you first fall in love with gymnastics? What sparked your passion, and how did your journey begin?
I have Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy (CGL), a rare genetic disorder characterized by a near-complete lack of adipose (fat) tissue from birth, which causes metabolic complications later in life. In other words, I have no fat and lots of muscles. My mom looked for activities that would help me achieve a normal standard of life despite my condition.
I tried a few different sports…
