Recruit Spotlight: Claire Pease

Club gym: WOGA

College team: Utah

Hometown: Sunnyvale, Texas

Utah-bound and already making waves on the senior international stage, Claire Pease is a name gymnastics fans should know. The WOGA standout from Sunnyvale, Texas, has built an impressive résumé that includes a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team and multiple international medals—all while keeping her sights set on growth beyond the sport. In this Recruit Spotlight, Pease reflects on the moments that have shaped her journey so far, from mastering her Onodi to navigating setbacks, choosing Utah, and envisioning her future as a Red Rock and beyond.

Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

How did you first fall in love with gymnastics?

My journey to falling in love with gymnastics began after I enrolled in recreational classes. I learned the skills quickly and was always ready to move to the next level. I was inspired by the competitiveness of the sport, and I loved the idea that you could continually learn and achieve new skills.

What has been the highlight of your gymnastics career so far?

The highlight of my gymnastics career thus far is earning a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team. Being able to represent my country on the international stage is a dream come true for me and an honor I’ll never take for granted.

What skill took you the longest to master, and how did it feel when you finally nailed it?

I would say the Onodi on beam. It is a skill that not everyone can do, and when I learned this skill at a young age, I felt so proud and excited.

What was your favourite activity that you did on any of your recruiting visits?

My favorite activity I did on my recruiting visit was watching the team practice and then spending time with the girls on the team. I liked seeing the coaches and athletes interact during practice, and I liked getting to know the team in a non-gym setting.

What’s something outside of gymnastics that you’re really passionate about right now?

I’m pretty passionate about sharing my love of the sport with others. Although gymnastics is a sport that requires a lot of skill, I want people to know they can still love and enjoy the sport at any level of participation. I am in the process of creating a non-profit organization that provides gymnasts the opportunity to share their love of the sport with everyone while also helping those within their community.

Who has made the biggest impact on your gymnastics career, and how have they inspired or shaped your journey?

The biggest impact thus far on my gymnastics career would be my coaches. We spend so much time with our coaches, and often people forget about the sacrifices they make in coaching us. They might not do the skills I do, but they are at the gym the same amount of hours. They have just as much invested in my successes and achievements. But the biggest impact would be knowing that my coaches see something in me and that they believe in me. They know I work hard and I want to succeed. Knowing this, I’m inspired every day to work hard, train harder, and to be the best version of me I can be.

What were the Antalya World Cup and City of Jesolo experiences like for you?

My international experience as a Senior National Team Member has been amazing. Going from junior to senior is a hard switch for anyone. In the Antalya World Cup and City of Jesolo Trophy, I was just so honored to be able to compete alongside some of the greatest gymnasts. And then I even had the privilege of sharing the podium with them. It was a very surreal moment for me—almost a dream come true. It gave me a boost of confidence that my training is paying off and that I deserve to be on the senior world stage, too.

What’s one of the toughest challenges you’ve faced in your journey, and what was the impact of pushing through it?

I would say one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced thus far is my injury right before the the World Championships Trials. At the end of championships, I’d been training so strategically for Worlds camp in October. I was in great shape both mentally and physically, and was excited for the challenge as a first-year senior. However, just a few days before leaving for camp, I landed a tumbling pass short, one I do all the time, and twisted my ankle. It wasn’t a horrible injury but enough to where I would be unable to try for Worlds. I was quite upset because I’d been working so hard. However, in hindsight, I know that everything happens for a purpose. And taking a short break to heal my ankle injury gave me time to reflect on my gymnastics. It helped me recenter myself so I could continue with my training and come back stronger. I truly feel that even in the depths of life’s valleys, there is always the opportunity to look up and climb your way to the top.

Is there a personal achievement in gymnastics that you’re really proud of?

I’m really proud of my performance at the Antalya World Cup. That was my very first international assignment as a senior. I was disappointed that I didn’t have a better beam qualification round. However, I didn’t give up, and I continued to train as if I did. Unfortunately, another of the top eight gymnasts had to withdraw right before the competition began. I was in the first reserve spot and stepped into the competition. This was a great accomplishment and achievement for me because I had the mindset that I would not be competing in the beam final. So just a short time before the beam final began, I found out I had the opportunity to compete. I was able to quickly step into the role with minimal notification and not only execute my beam routine without any falls, but I also won gold. This is one of the things I’m most proud of thus far, going from first reserve to gold.

Why did you ultimately choose Utah over the other programs you visited, and what specific factors made it feel like the right fit?

Everyone told me, “You will know where you belong when you visit the campus.” I didn’t really believe this at first, but found it to be true after my four visits. All the college campuses have pretty equivalent training facilities, medical access/equipment, dorms, and academic support. However, my collegiate choice wasn’t based solely on my gymnastics career. I know that college gymnastics is only a short period in my life and that my time in college should be used to grow as a person and to pursue my future career. All the colleges I visited were great, but when I visited Utah, I just felt a different connection not only to the team and coaching staff, but to what the Salt Lake City community had to offer. It is a beautiful area of the country, and the networking opportunities are tremendous. I felt I could grow not only as a gymnast here, but I could grow at becoming a better human and being a more productive member of society.

I want to be able to give back more than just gymnastics in my lifetime, and I felt the University of Utah could help me achieve this.

Utah gymnastics has an incredible history and a famously passionate fan base. How do you envision contributing to that legacy when you step onto the floor as a Ute?

I’m so excited to be a Ute and a Red Rock. Everyone talks about the Huntsman Center and how invigorating it is having almost 15,000 people cheering you on each Friday night during the season. I can’t wait to be a part of this legacy, and I’m so excited to perform and show everyone my passion for the sport.

What are you most excited to experience in college, both as a gymnast and in your personal life?

I think one of the things I’m most excited for in college gymnastics is the difference in competition environments. Elite competitions, either domestic or international, are very structured, and there is a certain feel to them. You don’t hear many people cheering or screaming in support during a routine. It is fairly quiet other than the background floor music or announcer. However, in college, when a gymnast competes their routine, you hear constant cheering and clapping, even when the gymnast is in the middle of their routine! I think I’m most excited to outwardly show and express my excitement for my teammates. I’m excited to be able to clap and cheer out loud for my teammates while they are on the beam or even bars.