UCLA gymnastics historically boasts Olympians. Jordan Chiles, who returned from Paris with a gold medal, headlines a 2025 roster after her international success. But one must not forget about Brooklyn Moors.
The Canadian Olympian, who competed at the Tokyo Games, has lurked in the background, waiting her turn to take center stage after battling injuries during her career in Westwood.
For the first time since February 2022, the graduate student competed in three events Saturday — beam, floor exercise and vault — showcasing her versatility to lead UCLA gymnastics to a third-place score of 195.250 at the American Gold Women’s Gymnastics Classic at Frontwave Arena. California, which finished second in the 2024 NCAA tournament, was first at 196.275 and Oregon State was second with a 195.775.
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All three programs scored below their season-opening totals from a year ago, and UCLA’s final team score was its lowest since January 2022.
Moors, who outside of one meet only performed floor routines for the Bruins a year ago, competed on beam for only the second time in three years. She landed a front-tuck full dismount, much to the delight of her cheering teammates, earning a score of 9.825. The Bruins posted a score of 49.050 on the event.
Back on her specialization, Moors waltzed through her floor routine based on Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games,” nailing her acrobatic series to tally a 9.900, tied for best on the day before closing with her season debut on vault. UCLA only scored above 49 on beam and floor.
Freshman Macy McGowan, in her debut, notched two 9.8-plus scores on beam and vault — showcasing a Yurchenko 1.5 on the latter — likely solidifying herself in multiple events at future meets. Chiles was UCLA’s only gymnast with two 9.900s, a feat the junior accomplished on bars and vault.
The meet didn’t start well for UCLA. Graduate student Chae Campbell dropped to the floor during her uneven bars routine. One routine later, senior Emma Malabuyo also fell, overextending her first handstand and dropping from the low bar. Having to count one of the two veteran gymnasts falls, the Bruins started with a 48.200 score — the Bruins’ lowest bars score since coach Janelle McDonald took over the program in 2023.
UCLA next competes on Jan. 11 at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in Oklahoma City against Arkansas, Kentucky and Ohio State.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
