Black girls do gymnastics, too!
This HBCU in Alabama is adding another team to the mix: the second Black women’s gymnastics team in the nation, HBCU Game Day reports.
Founded in 1867, Talladega College is Alabama’s oldest HBCU. They’ve been listed as Princeton Review’s best colleges in the Southeast, and it shows with their record-breaking enrollment from 2018-2021. They recently launched their first graduate program, and they’re not stopping there! With the help of Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG) and the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance, the college has established their first-ever women’s gymnastics team.
“While there are over eighty intercollegiate women’s gymnastics teams in the nation and many gymnastics clubs, Talladega will be one of only two HBCU teams. Having a team will give our athletes greater visibility and recognition,” Talladega Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Grant stated in a press release.
Talladega College has become the second HBCU with a women’s gymnastics program, joining Fisk University who’s been crushing their first year on the national stage. President of Talladega College Gregory J. Vincent stated, “This historic moment will have a lasting impact. Establishing a women’s gymnastics team at Talladega College will expand opportunities for HBCU student-athletes to compete in a rewarding sport that fosters discipline, confidence, and success. Developing our first-ever women’s gymnastics team will also promote student and alumni engagement and pride, enhance the college’s brand, and help create a pipeline of diverse gymnasts.”
The Talladega College Tornadoes will be hosting the 8th Annual Black Girls Do Gymnastics Conference in July 2024!
Photo: Talladega Tornadoes / Brown Girls Do Gymnastics