Photo Courtesy of Talladega College / Twitter
Talladega College is the second HBCU to launch a women’s gymnastics team.
The Alabama school announced that it partnered with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG), an organization striving to expand “diversity and inclusion in gymnastics and circus arts.” Talladega now joins Fisk University, the first HBCU to start a women’s artistic gymnastics team after partnering with BGDG.
The announcement was made at the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance Collaboration in Atlanta on Jan. 14.
“This historic moment will have a lasting impact,” Gregory J. Vincent, Talladega College President, said. “Developing our first-ever women’s gymnastics team will also promote student and alumni engagement and pride, enhance the college’s brand, and help create a pipeline of diverse gymnasts.”
The college’s vice president and athletic director, Michael Grant, added, “While there are over eighty intercollegiate women’s gymnastics teams in the nation and many gymnastics clubs, Talladega will be one of only two HBCU teams. Having a team will give our athletes greater visibility and recognition.”
Talladega’s announcement came days after Fisk’s debut as the first HBCU to launch an inaugural gymnastics team in Las Vegas at the Super 16 gymnastics meet, competing against D1 schools. Fisk landed in fourth place while Washington Huskies got first place, Utah Thunderbirds came in second, and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels got third.