Jayla Hang is no stranger to the national spotlight. A five-time U.S. national team member and the 2025 Pan American all-around champion, the Kirkland, Washington, native has built her résumé by thriving in high-pressure moments on the national stage.
Now, Hang is ready to bring that elite experience to NCAA gymnastics with confidence and resilience. While currently recovering from a wrist injury, she remains fueled by her parents’ support and a clear goal for her time with the Florida Gators: winning a national title.
Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Club gym: Pacific Reign
College team: Florida
Hometown: Kirkland, Washington
How did you first fall in love with gymnastics? Can you remember the moment or feeling that made you realize it was your sport?
I first fell in love with gymnastics during my first year of junior elite. Coming into the world of elite gymnastics was definitely scary, but winning Classics showed me that I was meant to be here. It was my first big milestone, and I remember being so shocked and happy for how I did.
What’s one moment in your gymnastics journey you’ll never forget? Whether it’s a big win or a quiet milestone, what made it special?
One moment in my gymnastics career that I’ll never forget is when I was in Croatia for a World Cup, and it was beam finals. I had struggled during previous beam finals when the pressure was high. After hitting my beam routine, I remember telling my coach, Cale, “I finally hit a beam final!” This was one of my proudest moments and something I’ll never forget.
How has elite gymnastics shaped you into the person you are today?
Elite gymnastics is definitely a main contributor to who I am today. It has taught me so many lessons and given me the confidence to be true to myself. I’m so thankful for all the exciting moments, like winning a medal, but also the hard times when I felt like giving up.
You competed three days of all-around in a row at the 2025 Pan American Championships. How was that experience, and how did you maintain your physical and mental state during that competition?
Coming into that meet, I knew it was going to be a long week, but if someone had told me I was going to be competing three days in a row, I wouldn’t have believed them. During that time, I was very confident, and my body felt strong. The hardest day was definitely the last, when it was the event finals. I remember my legs being so sore, and I was mentally drained. But through it all, I was so blessed to be in the position to compete. I was surrounded by the best group of girls and coaches who made that experience something I’ll never forget.
What about Florida sealed the deal for you? Has it always been a dream school?
Florida was truly a place where I felt everything inside me light up. It was never a school I even considered growing up, but watching the coaches and how supportive they seemed to their athletes made me interested. They make sure to balance academics and athletics, and it felt like a place where I was going to grow as a person and as an athlete.
Who has made the biggest impact on your gymnastics career, and how have they inspired or shaped your journey?
Definitely my parents, who have never given up on me and have always had my back. They work so hard and sacrifice so much to allow me to do the sport I love. They have been with me through all the highs and lows and are the reason I am where I am today.
Gymnastics is full of highs and lows—what’s one of the toughest challenges you’ve faced in your journey, and how has overcoming it shaped you as both an athlete and a person?
It would probably be what I’m going through now with my wrist injury. It’s been a long journey with many doctor appointments, CT/X-ray scans, and setbacks that have kept me from doing gymnastics. It’s also taught me to be patient and not take any opportunity for granted. As I’m recovering and getting back to normal, I hope to have even more motivation and determination for my gymnastics than before.
Looking ahead to your college career, what are you most excited to experience—both as a gymnast and in your personal life?
I look forward to training in a different environment where you aren’t competing for yourself, but for your team. I’m excited to be able to compete in the Gators’ O’Dome where the energy is so high and electric!
What’s something on your college gymnastics bucket list?
Win a national title!
Rapid Fire Questions
Vault, bars, beam, or floor? Bars
Which four gymnasts would be on your college gymnastics Mount Rushmore? Suni Lee, Skye Blakley, Jade Carey, and Katelyn Ohashi
What’s your most-used emoji? 🫶🏼
What’s one of your pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Don’t have one
What’s one of your gymnastics pet peeves? Cleaning up mats in the gym
What’s a hidden talent people may not know about? Not sure 🤷♀️
What do you want to be when you grow up? College coach or physical therapist
What’s your favorite leotard your college team has worn? This one!
READ THIS NEXT: Recruit Spotlight: Audrey Snyder
Article by Courtney Varrichio
