Katelyn Ohashi thinks her viral January gymnastics routine for UCLA showed a different side of the sport.
“For the past two years, we’ve only heard negative things about gymnastics and how it’s abusive. But the sport isn’t abusive. It was the culture,” 22-year-old Ohashi said in ESPN’s annual Body issue.
Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison on sex assault charges. And while the fallout continued since his sentencing, Ohashi’s perfect performance brought a sense of joy back to gymnastics.
“That video put gymnastics in a different light, and people have been able to see the beautiful side of the sport,” she said.
Ohashi, who won ESPY Awards over the summer for Best Play and for Viral Sports Moment, believes the video garnered worldwide attention because of the euphoric feeling it gave audiences.
“I think the routine went viral because it was so relatable and people could feel joy watching it,” she said.
Ohashi delivered again in April, capping off her collegiate career with another phenomenal routine.
Source: Read Full Article