Olympic gold medalist, NCAA champion, gold at the Worlds. It’s not hard to see why young girls look up to Kyla Ross, UCLA gymnast. Throughout her gymnastic career, she’s left behind a trail of perfect 10’s.
Now, she can add “Fil-Am Youth Role Model” to her resume. It’s fitting because this year, the theme of the Filipino American History Museum is “Pinay Visionaries,” celebrating those women who have made an impact in their careers or specialty areas.
“I’m super excited to be able to receive this award — I think it’s super cool to be able to be an athlete and Filipino American and really represent this culture, so really excited today to receive this award,” said the leader of the UCLA women’s gymnastics team.
As part of Filipino American History Month, the City of Carson has given the award to the 23-year-old Hawaii-born, California-raised Ross.
“I feel really fortunate to have continued my gymnastics career at UCLA and do something that I love so much and still breaking records has been really fun. But it’s bittersweet I’ve been doing gymnastics my whole life but I’m also ready to have a new chapter in life.”
Ross is competing in her final year of eligibility for UCLA. Her final and fifth year she will concentrate in completing her major in microbiology.
She won her Olympic gold as a member of the Fierce Five in 2012. As a college freshman in 2017, Ross was the national champion in the balance beam and the co-champion in the uneven bars, which made her the first gymnast to ever win Olympic, world championship and NCAA titles.
Her clutch performance on the balance beam helped the Bruins win the 2018 NCAA championship in dramatic fashion, according to the L.A. Times.
Last season, Ross was at her peak. she scored a dozen perfect 10’s during the season and she led her team to the NCAA championship barely losing to Oklahoma for the national title.
In addition, just over a year ago, she joined the women gymnasts in accusing Olympic gymnastics physician, Dr. Larry Nassar, of abusing them.
“She’s just so magnificent,” UCLA coach Valorie Kondos-Field told the Times. “I love the example that she not just gives our athletes, but gives to everyone that watches that it’s OK not be perfect. She’s what the sport is all about, get your ego out of it and just do the best you can in the moment.”
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