From placing sixth all-around at the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials as a first-year senior to earning five-star recruit status in 2025, Utah commit Gabrielle Black has established herself as one of Canada’s rising stars. The Oakville Gymnastics Club standout from Milton, Ontario, has big goals ahead—including making the world championships team and helping the Red Rocks chase another national title. She opens up about building her confidence, the role models who shaped her, and why Utah felt like the perfect fit for her NCAA journey.
Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Club gym: Oakville Gymnastics Club
College team: Utah
Hometown: Milton, ON
How did you first fall in love with gymnastics?
I fell in love with gymnastics when I was younger, watching the older girls do cool tricks and wanting to do what they were doing. My own journey began when my mom signed me up for a gymnastics summer camp.
What has been the highlight of your gymnastics career so far?
I have many highlights during my gymnastics career, but if I had to choose one, it would be coming sixth all-around at the 2024 Olympic Trials.
You’ve had a really successful 2025 season so far and saw a jump to being rated a five-star recruit. What do you think contributed most to that, and how has it felt to see your hard work pay off in such a big way on the competition floor?
What I think contributed most to jumping to five stars was my continued success from 2024, adding upgrades, and consistently placing in the top three at most competitions. It feels great to see my hard work pay off—it motivates me and reassures me that I’m doing something right.
What goals are you most excited about for the rest of this year and into 2026?
The goals I’m most excited about are working toward making the world team and competing at big, important competitions.
Who has made the biggest impact on your gymnastics career, and how have they inspired or shaped your journey?
Simone Biles and Ellie Black have had the biggest impact on my gymnastics career. Their body build, power, strength, and many years in gymnastics has inspired me never to be ashamed of my body build, power, and strength. It tells me that it’s OK to be different and that I can stay in this sport as long as I want.
Was there a specific moment or competition when you realized college gymnastics was within your reach?
When I competed against second-, third-, and older-year seniors at the 2024 Olympic Trials and placed sixth all-around, I realized college gymnastics was within my reach. Even though I didn’t make the Olympic team, being a first-year senior and coming so close to making it showed me how far I had come.
What’s one of the toughest challenges you’ve faced in gymnastics, and how has overcoming it shaped you as both an athlete and a person?
The toughest challenge I’ve faced in gymnastics has been building my confidence. I’m still working on it, but the journey has already shaped me into a more confident athlete and person. It’s made me a little more outgoing and less concerned about what others think of me.
What’s a personal gymnastics achievement you’re especially proud of that might surprise people?
A personal gymnastics achievement that might surprise people is that I’m really proud of always being selected to compete on bars for team competitions, most times making bars finals, and occasionally getting a medal.
Utah has a rich legacy of international standouts and is always in the mix for a national title—but just hasn’t quite sealed the deal in recent years. What drew you to the program, and how do you see yourself contributing to Utah’s push to finally reclaim that championship legacy?
What drew me to Utah’s program is their consistency—they make the top four at nationals every year, and they’ve had high-level gymnasts and Olympians, both past and present. I also value that coach Mike [Hunger] is involved with both the U.S. team and Utah. I see myself contributing to Utah’s push to reclaim its championship legacy by putting up big scores, keeping the team positive, and adding to that consistency.
What are you most excited to experience in college, both as a gymnast and in your personal life?
I’m most excited to experience the feel of the college competition atmosphere and the lifestyle of university.
What’s something on your college gymnastics bucket list?
On my college gymnastics bucket list is winning a championship with Utah and earning an All-American award.
Rapid Fire Questions
Vault, bars, beam, or floor? Vault
Which four gymnasts would be on your gymnastics Mount Rushmore? Simone Biles, Ellie Black, Gabby Douglas, and Rebeca Andrade
What’s your most-used emoji? 
What’s one of your gymnastics pet peeves? Working in brand new grips.
What’s one of your pre-meet rituals or superstitions? One of my pre-meet rituals is to pray before each event.
What’s a hidden talent people may not know about? I can sing and move my ears without touching them.
What do you want to be when you grow up? An architect
What’s your favorite leotard your college team has worn? This one!
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Article by KT Couldrey and Elizabeth Grimsley
