National Champion Morgan Price And Kyrstin Johnson's Historic Night At The USA Gymnastics Women's Championship
Morgan Price is the "Queen" and Kyrstin Johnson proved to be a rising star in women's collegiate gymnastics.
HOUSTON - Consider this remarkable feat of two HBCU institutions. In less than two years, Fisk University and Talladega have successfully established women's gymnastics programs with Morgan Price (Fisk) and Kyrstin Johnson (Talladega) pioneering the way.
Fisk jubilantly launched the first program in 2022, and immediately, black and brown girls from across the nation decided to enroll at the storied school in Nashville, Tennessee. Morgan Price was one of the program's most coveted recruits.
Morgan Price
USA Gymnastics
MORGAN PRICE CROWNED AS THE QUEEN
Embarking on her freshman year, Morgan Price's exceptional talent, unwavering skill, and fierce competitive spirit not only propelled the Lady Bulldogs gymnastics program in competitions but also captured national attention. At the season's close, the USAG extended an invitation to her and several teammates to compete at nationals in Denton, Texas.
At the 2023 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships, Morgan Price finished in the top ten in the all-around exercises with a cumulative score of 38.40. This was not just a personal triumph but also a testament to the growth and potential of the Lady Bulldogs gymnastics program at Fisk. It's a promising sign for the future of HBCU athletics.
This year, Price scored 39.225 to become the first USAG Collegiate National Champion from a historically black college and university.
Kyrstin Johnson
USA Gymnastics
KYRSTIN JOHNSON IS A RISING STAR
Several months later, Talladega College made history as the second HBCU school to introduce a women's gymnastics program. The Lady Tornadoes made their debut in 2023, with Kyrstin Johnson as one of their recruits.
The Baltimore native, who had a passion for flipping and twirling, had never competed before her arrival in Talladega, Alabama. Despite considering Fisk, she ultimately chose to place her gymnastics career in the hands of Talladega's leadership.
Johnson fell in love with the vault exercise and has successfully added the Yurchenko 1 and 1/2 vault to her repertoire.
"Some people can actually take them a minute because you're literally running towards an object," Johnson told HBCU Legends about learning the vault in February. She continued, "Which can actually be hard for people. Honestly, I just happened to be really good at that event, and it's my favorite event."
A WONDERFUL NIGHT FOR HBCU WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS
Let's fast-forward to last night. Price and Johnson, despite facing numerous challenges, including barriers, a lack of resources, long hours of practice, school work, tests, and naysayers, qualified for the evening's all-around competition. They showed remarkable perseverance and determination, competing against gymnasts from TWU, Cornell, and the Air Force.
Morgan Price, with her exceptional performance, claimed the 2024 USAG Women's Collegiate National Championship title, marking a historic moment as the first HBCU gymnast to become the all-around national champion. Kyrstin Johnson also made history, earning third place on the winner's podium. Their achievements are a source of pride for their respective institutions and the HBCU community.