just looked her up and she is now in Law School studying sports law to protect women in sports! she was interviewed by her school paper on why she left elite and she said the timing was bad since she was "in between" Olympics so the wait for the next one would have been 3 years, so she chose to focus on school and NCAA instead.
Kayla's story is iconic. She was a level 10 at the beginning of the season, transitioned to elite, and stuck her first EVER vault at the elite level. She then proceeded to win vault at every elite meet she ever went to. She beat out the reigning Olympic gold medalist in qualifications and finals and won gold by more than 0.5. I never realized that she was also the very first American to ever win vault. Insane
LOVE when you do videos like these showcasing a "forgotten" or "underrated" or otherwise short yet bright career in gymnastics. It's so intriguing to travel back in time this way and remember a variety of gymnasts (or learn about them for the first time!)
Kayla Williams was phenomenal. I liked her floor even more. 2009 is such a forgotten year overall bc it’s outshadowed by 2010-2012. However 2009 Worlds were very exciting and had a super deep field which is rare for a post-Olympic year
I love the small little chuckle when you said "mat" on "precisely in the center of the mat". The inflection is perfect because her landing was stellar!
KAYLA WILLIAMS is /was an amazing Vaulter and Tumbler! How interesting and short her Elite career was, but that made it. Special. Congratulations to Kayla on achieving a great many achievements in her gymnastics career!
Its crazy how the US is now known for their vaulters, yet a world gold was only achieved in 2009 and an olympic gold was only achieved in 2016. But basically dominating on vault for the following years.
I'm just surprised she retired in 2010. I know the Olympic Games were three years before her World's gold, but I think she would have done great in London.
Great for her. Americans have more power than any other country, there is absolutely no reason why they have not gone 1 and 2 for every vault final. They should make 2 vaults mandatory for the national team, because currently the min they learn a dty, it's on to the next apparatus.
I never forgot about Kayla cause I watched her at Alabama. Also gymnast names that come to mind before Maroney or sacramone would be liukin Johnson Douglas bross wieber atler Dawes miller Patterson strug…no disrespect but just don’t think those were the first three names people would think of if making a list…
The way the judges gave that low of a score for a technically precise dty is absolute bs. I remember hearing the bbc commentators go from crazy to dumbfounded upon hearing them announce the score.
She had already committed to Alabama that year. Plus the year before she had no idea she was going to be elite. USA Gymnastics saw her at level 10 competition and knew she had to be on the national team for vault. So they skipped most of the formalities for her to become an elite so that she would have a chance of being at worlds. Pretty much the same thing that happened to Jade Carey. Kayla took advantage of the opportunity given to her and got out of town. And I don't blame her for that at all.
Where the hell was I during 2009? Can't blame it on the coke like 1996... Anyhoo...Loved those two vaults. I don't even remember Kayla. What a shame for me.
just looked her up and she is now in Law School studying sports law to protect women in sports! she was interviewed by her school paper on why she left elite and she said the timing was bad since she was "in between" Olympics so the wait for the next one would have been 3 years, so she chose to focus on school and NCAA instead.
Kayla's story is iconic. She was a level 10 at the beginning of the season, transitioned to elite, and stuck her first EVER vault at the elite level. She then proceeded to win vault at every elite meet she ever went to. She beat out the reigning Olympic gold medalist in qualifications and finals and won gold by more than 0.5. I never realized that she was also the very first American to ever win vault. Insane
LOVE when you do videos like these showcasing a "forgotten" or "underrated" or otherwise short yet bright career in gymnastics. It's so intriguing to travel back in time this way and remember a variety of gymnasts (or learn about them for the first time!)
Kayla Williams was phenomenal. I liked her floor even more. 2009 is such a forgotten year overall bc it’s outshadowed by 2010-2012. However 2009 Worlds were very exciting and had a super deep field which is rare for a post-Olympic year
2009 was a fantastic worlds! That whole quad was kind of the best since the open ended code was introduced
She goes to the law school where I’m an undergrad 😭 that vault is iconic
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤
That’s awesome! My dad’s a lawyer. Wishing her all the best!!🙌🏻
That’s so cool
That’s so cool
Unreal that we've been so stacked with top-notch vaulters in recent years, but our first vault gold at Worlds was just in 2009!
Right
And the first Olympic champ wasn’t until 2016!!!!
Her* not "our"
That DTY was amazing wow!
Yes! Such a cool story. I’ve meet Kayla several times as she still works in the gymnastics world and she is so nice!
That DTY was iconic 😍
Kayla deserves more attention as the 1st American Vault World Championship 🏆
I love the small little chuckle when you said "mat" on "precisely in the center of the mat". The inflection is perfect because her landing was stellar!
This video was very well done! Thank you for shining the spotlight on this talented gymnast!
She went from Level 10 to Worlds in less than a year? Didn't know that!
We were pretty proud to have her here at Alabama. I'm so happy you gave her this recognition.
So in total she did like 10 vaults in her elite career? Most efficient gymnast of all time to come away with an individual world gold
I remember her but I don't watch college gymnastics, only Elite so had forgotten about her. Thanks for sharing ❣
Love the underrated athlete spotlights!!
She was on the elite level for like one minute.😂 I’ll never forget that DTY.
KAYLA WILLIAMS is /was an amazing Vaulter and Tumbler! How interesting and short her Elite career was, but that made it. Special. Congratulations to Kayla on achieving a great many achievements in her gymnastics career!
Thanks for this. She should be highlighted more, for being the first US woman to win the vault title at Worlds.
How have I never heard of her what an incredible story and gymnast. 🤩🤩
I really think face painting should be allowed! The Cat character was great!❤️
Great video!! 🙏
Wow first one and I didn’t know about her
Its crazy how the US is now known for their vaulters, yet a world gold was only achieved in 2009 and an olympic gold was only achieved in 2016. But basically dominating on vault for the following years.
that rudi was pretty slick, too!
Well done report!
Wow I didn’t know about her ! Such a great story! Thank you
I'm just surprised she retired in 2010. I know the Olympic Games were three years before her World's gold, but I think she would have done great in London.
Not only gorgeous but athletic and intelligent too! What more can you ask of anyone. 🌹
That's too bad she's not talked about in today's gymnastics!
Great for her. Americans have more power than any other country, there is absolutely no reason why they have not gone 1 and 2 for every vault final. They should make 2 vaults mandatory for the national team, because currently the min they learn a dty, it's on to the next apparatus.
She’s like my new idol who i aspire to be. Vault is my favorite event and I would love to win it
Beautiful story ❤️❤️❤️
It feels so weird to see Hong Un-jong’s name flipped that way. Maybe it won’t be too much to ask to respect different name orders in the future.
who is the voice behind these videos, so mesmerizing 😵💫😝
I thought this video was going to be about Carly Patterson.
I never forgot about Kayla cause I watched her at Alabama. Also gymnast names that come to mind before Maroney or sacramone would be liukin Johnson Douglas bross wieber atler Dawes miller Patterson strug…no disrespect but just don’t think those were the first three names people would think of if making a list…
I kinda think that Postell is even more forgotten
Yes! Love her
can you do a video on mykayla skinner please?
Alabama gymnastics people know this name better than most
The way the judges gave that low of a score for a technically precise dty is absolute bs. I remember hearing the bbc commentators go from crazy to dumbfounded upon hearing them announce the score.
The vault judging at those worlds was incredibly strict, it was likely the highest e score on vault the entire competition.
Her first vault was a little overscored. Her second vault was completely AMAZING and yet it was underscored. I don't understand it.
why she dind't make 2010 worlds team?
She had retired from Elite by that time
@@gymnasticsmasterclass i mean why shecretirrd
One of the best vault ever
Rebecca who?
Does anyone knows why she retired from elite? Did she had an injury, her results were too bad to stay in national team or something else?
She had already committed to Alabama that year. Plus the year before she had no idea she was going to be elite. USA Gymnastics saw her at level 10 competition and knew she had to be on the national team for vault. So they skipped most of the formalities for her to become an elite so that she would have a chance of being at worlds. Pretty much the same thing that happened to Jade Carey. Kayla took advantage of the opportunity given to her and got out of town. And I don't blame her for that at all.
@@bojohns77 Oh, I see, she had chosen education rather than elite gymnastics and that's actually great)
There was also rumors about some issues with her gym. I believe she changed gyms after worlds
Where the hell was I during 2009? Can't blame it on the coke like 1996...
Anyhoo...Loved those two vaults. I don't even remember Kayla. What a shame for me.
The United States 🇺🇸 forgotten American Champion.
omg no her number fell off!
Not sure that’s what “nevertheless” means
Hii
She is forgotten because her vaults were gross. It's just a fact
Her rudi vault at Worlds had a couple of form issues but her DTY was great. Nowhere near "gross".