Kyrstin Johnson

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Kyrstin Johnson is an American collegiate gymnast from Baltimore, Maryland. She competed for Talladega College during the 2023–24 season, where she became the first gymnast to represent a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the state of Alabama. She subsequently competed for Temple University for two seasons before entering the transfer portal in March 2026.

Early life

Johnson grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and began competing in gymnastics at the age of ten. She trained at Docksiders Gymnastics in Millersville, Maryland, and competed as a Level 10 gymnast. She graduated high school and qualified for the 2023 Level 10 National Championships before committing to college.

Talladega College (2023–2024)

In 2023, Johnson became the first gymnast to commit to the newly established gymnastics program at Talladega College, an HBCU in Alabama, making her the first woman to represent an HBCU in gymnastics in that state.[1]

During her freshman season, Johnson competed the Yurchenko 1.5 vault in NCAA competition, a skill that had not previously been performed by an HBCU gymnast at the collegiate level.[2] She helped Talladega earn its first NCAA-sanctioned meet victory, with Johnson placing first in the all-around.[3]

At the 2024 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships, Johnson won the vault title with a score of 9.875, becoming the first HBCU gymnast to win an individual national title in the sport. She also placed second on floor exercise (9.8625) and third in the all-around (39.05), earning three medals at the championships. Johnson was named a four-time First Team All-American across all four events.[4][5]

Following the 2023–24 season, Talladega College discontinued its gymnastics program due to financial constraints.[6]

Temple University (2024–2026)

In August 2024, Johnson announced her transfer to Temple University, joining the Owls women's gymnastics program in NCAA Division I.[7]

2025 season

During the 2025 season, Johnson competed in all 14 meets and recorded two career-high scores of 9.9 on floor exercise. She was named East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Specialist of the Week and earned First Team All-EAGL honors on both vault and floor.[8]

Her floor routine, set to "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar, "Soak City (Do It)" by 310babii, and "TGIF" by GloRilla, received national media coverage after video of the performance spread widely online.[9][10][11] Her performances were also covered by Inside Gymnastics magazine and the Therapy for Black Girls podcast.[12][13]

The Temple News profiled Johnson during the 2025 season, covering her transition from Talladega and her impact on the program.[14]

2026 season

During the 2026 season, Johnson competed in 10 of Temple's 13 meets and earned Second Team EAGL All-Tournament honors on floor exercise. She was also named to the EAGL All-Scholastic Team for the second consecutive year.[15]

On March 7, 2026, Johnson performed a floor routine titled "I Bet You Won't" at a meet hosted by the University of Maryland. Video of the performance spread widely online, marking the second time one of her routines had gone viral. Like her 2025 routine, it celebrated Black culture through music and intentional choreography rooted in her Baltimore upbringing.[16]

The attention generated by both viral routines led to Johnson being invited to serve as the official Torch Bearer and halftime performer at an National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) regular season match. On April 25, 2026, she performed her floor routine at halftime of the match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and Bay FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, becoming the first gymnast ever to perform at an NWSL halftime show. Gotham FC won the match 3–0.[17][18][19]

In March 2026, Johnson announced she was entering the transfer portal, with one season of eligibility remaining.[20]

Academic record

Johnson has maintained a 3.8 GPA and was named to the EAGL All-Scholastic Team in both 2025 and 2026.[21] She is pursuing a pre-veterinary academic track with plans to attend veterinary school after completing her undergraduate degree.

References

  1. ↑ "HBCU gymnastics freshman, champ Kyrstin Johnson inspiring future". HBCU Gameday. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Gold Medalist Kyrstin Johnson Vaults From HBCU To Division I Gymnastics". Sports Illustrated / HBCU Legends. August 7, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Talladega HBCU gymnast Kyrstin Johnson wins title as a freshman". HBCU Gameday. April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Talladega gymnast Kyrstin Johnson earns historic win at USA Nationals". HBCU Sports. April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Talladega HBCU gymnast Kyrstin Johnson wins title as a freshman". HBCU Gameday. April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Talladega College gymnastics star Kyrstin Johnson transfers to Temple University". ClutchPoints. August 6, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Talladega College gymnastics star Kyrstin Johnson transfers to Temple University". ClutchPoints. August 6, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Kyrstin Johnson – Women's Gymnastics Roster". Temple Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Gymnast Kyrstin Johnson wows with viral hip-hop floor routine". ESPN. January 18, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Temple gymnast Kyrstin Johnson's hip-hop floor routine goes viral". CBS News Philadelphia. January 24, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "A Temple gymnast went viral for her Kendrick Lamar and GloRilla-inspired floor routine". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 7, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Beyond the Routine: Kyrstin Johnson's rise at Temple". Inside Gymnastics. February 24, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Flipping Out with Kyrstin Johnson". Therapy for Black Girls. March 25, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Temple gymnast providing much-needed burst of energy". The Temple News. February 6, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Kyrstin Johnson enters transfer portal". The Temple News. March 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Kyrstin Johnson: Baltimore gymnast goes viral twice, inspiring young girls to embrace their authentic selves". WMAR 2 News Baltimore. June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Gotham FC to Host Girls in Sports Day Presented by Grüns". Gotham FC. April 20, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Gotham FC Wins For The Girls". The New York Beacon. April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kyrstin Johnson: Baltimore gymnast goes viral twice, inspiring young girls to embrace their authentic selves". WMAR 2 News Baltimore. June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Temple's viral gymnast, Kyrstin Johnson, will enter the transfer portal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Kyrstin Johnson – Women's Gymnastics Roster". Temple Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2026.

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