Haleigh Alexandra Bryant was born on December 20, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, and has risen as a name synonymous with American artistic gymnastics. From being an enthusiastic kid to emerging as champion at a collegiate level-her life is all about determination, reaching the skies via hard work, and numerous striking records.
Early Life and Introduction to Gymnastics
She started to develop a love for the sport of gymnastics at three years old. Bryant relocated her family to Cornelius, North Carolina, in 2011. Training through her formative years took place at Everest Gymnastics-the most preeminent training facility responsible for sending young prospects on their road to international-level competitors-while also attending William Amos Hough High School.
Junior Gymnastics Career
Bryant’s rise in the gymnastics scene started with eye-catching performances at Level 10:
2016: Finished sixth in the junior division at the Nastia Liukin Cup.
2017: Bryant won the all-around title in the junior-B division at the Junior Olympic Championships.
2018: Won the senior title at the Nastia Liukin Cup; defended her vault title, placed second on floor exercise and third in the all-around at the Junior Olympic Championships.
2019: Bryant took home the top spots on vault and uneven bars while bringing home the all-around silver at Junior Olympic Championships.
2020: First gymnast to capture two Nastia Liukin Cup titles.
Collegiate Career at LSU
She verbally committed to Louisiana State University in November 2019 and joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2021. So far, in her collegiate career, here are some titles and awards that Bryant has collected:
2021 Season: Bryant began her career in style as she posted the highest all-around score in her debut meet against Arkansas. Haleigh Bryant scored her first perfect 10 on vault during a meet against Missouri. She won the vault title at the SEC Championships and helped LSU to a second-place finish. She captured the vault title along with Anastasia Webb and was fifth in the all-around and balance beam at the NCAA Championships semi-finals.
2023-24 Season: Bryant recorded her first perfect 10 on the balance beam against Georgia on February 9, 2024. This made her the fourteenth NCAA gymnast to complete a “gym slam”, and first from LSU to record a perfect 10 in all four apparatus.
She took bronze on the balance beam in the 2024 NCAA Championships and became an All-Around National Champion, clinching LSU their first-ever national championship.
Accolades and Honors
Bryant’s great performances have been widely recognized as follows:
Honda Sport Award for Gymnastics in 2024: This is a prestigious award given to her as the best collegiate female athlete of the year in her sport, which made her the second LSU gymnast to ever win such an award.
2024 AAI Award: Given to the nation’s best senior female gymnast, Bryant became only the fourth gymnast in NCAA history to garner the trifecta of the NCAA team title, all-around title, and the AAI Award.
2024 SEC Gymnast of the Year: Bryant was named to this prestigious honor after a consistent, excellent season.
Achievements in Academia
Beyond her athletic prowess, Bryant has shown great academic dedication outside the rituals of her sport. She graduated with her bachelor’s in sport administration this spring of 2024 and had been a mainstay on the SEC Academic Honor Roll to the extent of emerging as a Scholastic All-American for her hard work in the classroom.
Future Endeavors
To attest to the depth of love which Bryant had toward the sport she loved so much, having spent nine-plus years competing on Bankston with all the accomplishments a women’s basketball career could boast about, she officially announced the ultimate decision that confirmed her commitment to returning in the final, 2025 season for her team Tigers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many perfect 10s has Haleigh Bryant finished in her college career?
As of the 2024 season, Bryant has scored 18 career perfect scores on all apparatus combined.
Has LSU Gymnastics ever won a national championship before the year 2024?
No, the 2024 national championship marked the first-ever national title for the LSU Gymnastics program.
What’s next for Haleigh Bryant after collegiate gymnastics?
While specific post-collegiate plans have not been openly discussed, Bryant’s return for the 2025 season speaks volumes regarding her continued commitment to both the sport and her team.
