Katelyn Ohashi, a former UCLA gymnast, is best known for her viral floor routine in 2019, which scored a perfect 10 and garnered over 44 million views. What started as an incredible moment of fame and success became a turning point in Ohashi’s career, where she faced both personal triumphs and missed opportunities due to the limitations placed on college athletes by NCAA rules. In this article, we will explore the challenges Ohashi faced after her viral moment, her advocacy for athlete compensation, and the broader impact on college athletes today.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Katelyn Ohashi was not expecting her floor routine to go viral. Performing to the energetic beats of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” at a UCLA gymnastics meet, Ohashi’s flawless performance captured the hearts of viewers everywhere. However, as she tried to relax during a visit to an ice skating rink in January 2019, her phone continuously buzzed with notifications. What seemed like an ordinary day quickly turned into something extraordinary as Ohashi realized her routine had gone viral. With over 50,000 new followers in just a few hours, Ohashi was thrust into the spotlight, with celebrities and fans alike sharing her incredible performance.
Despite the overwhelming positivity surrounding her performance, Ohashi soon realized that this newfound fame wasn’t without its challenges. “I didn’t have my notifications on, but I was getting all these notifications from verified accounts,” she recalled. As her popularity soared, she struggled to navigate the opportunities that came with it while also balancing the responsibilities of being a college athlete.
The Unfortunate Realization: A Missed Opportunity for Profit
While Ohashi’s viral moment should have been a career-launching opportunity, she couldn’t capitalize on it due to the NCAA’s regulations, which prohibited college athletes from profiting off their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Ohashi expressed frustration over the fact that, as a college gymnast, she could not accept endorsement deals or sponsorships during the height of her fame. “As soon as that happened, my career was coming to an end,” Ohashi said, referring to her impending graduation and retirement from competitive gymnastics.
The impact of these restrictions became clear when Ohashi was approached by multiple companies wanting to collaborate with her during her viral moment. However, she had to turn them down, asking them to reach out to her months later after her graduation. By that time, the window of opportunity had closed, and many of the opportunities were gone.
“If this bill was in place, I could have had representation, which would have been big,” Ohashi said. The bill she referred to is California’s law allowing college athletes to benefit from their NIL, a law that was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019 and set to take effect in 2021. While the law primarily benefited athletes in more high-profile sports like football and basketball, Ohashi advocated for its potential to support athletes in sports like gymnastics, which doesn’t have the same lucrative professional opportunities after college.
Why Athlete Compensation Matters for All Sports
Ohashi’s advocacy for NIL rights highlights the disparities between athletes in different sports. “Many gymnasts peak when they’re 16 and they have to make a decision between going to the Olympics and taking money or going to the Olympics and refusing to take money or just going to college,” she explained. This difficult decision often leaves young athletes like Ohashi with limited options. If she had been able to profit from her fame as a college athlete, she could have supported herself financially while continuing her gymnastics career. However, the strict rules at the time meant that athletes like her could only focus on their athletic endeavors without the financial benefits available to other professional athletes.
Ohashi’s concerns were not unfounded. She pointed to examples like swimmer Missy Franklin, who chose not to accept money during the 2012 Olympics because she wanted to compete in college. Franklin’s decision to forgo financial compensation for her achievements reflected the complex nature of being an athlete at the intersection of college sports and professional opportunities.
The new law changes the landscape for athletes in all sports, providing them with the chance to capitalize on their fame, sign endorsement deals, and gain financial independence while still in college. This shift in policy allows athletes like Ohashi to navigate their careers with the ability to benefit from the attention they receive without sacrificing their educational goals or athletic pursuits.
The Power of Social Media and Body Positivity
Ohashi has also become an advocate for body positivity and mental health, speaking out about her struggles with body image, eating disorders, and the physical toll of gymnastics. Gymnastics is a sport that places a high emphasis on physical appearance, often leading athletes to struggle with self-image issues. Ohashi shared that, during her competitive years, she and some of her fellow gymnasts developed unhealthy relationships with food, going so far as to measure their thighs and avoid eating to meet certain body standards. She recalled, “Whenever we’d go to a party where there was a lot of food, we’d feel so bad about eating that we would go to the bathroom and throw up without realizing that’s an eating disorder.”
By sharing her experiences, Ohashi has become a role model for athletes and fans struggling with similar issues. She regularly receives messages of support from individuals who have found comfort in her story and body-positive messages. “To let her know from an early age that you don’t have to be validated by your score or one thing that you do – you’re a human being, and there’s so much that we have to offer the world,” Ohashi said, reflecting on a conversation she had with a fan who had gone through similar struggles.
Conclusion: Looking Forward to Future Opportunities
While Katelyn Ohashi’s viral moment was a major success, it also highlighted the need for change in the way college athletes are compensated for their efforts. Ohashi’s advocacy for NIL rights has not only influenced legislation in California but has also inspired a broader conversation about athlete welfare and financial independence. Her struggles with body image and the pressures of being a gymnast have made her an even more influential figure, as she continues to use her platform to advocate for positive change.
As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, athletes like Ohashi are leading the way in promoting body positivity, mental health awareness, and fair compensation. Ohashi’s journey serves as a reminder that success is not just about athletic achievement, but also about creating opportunities for athletes to thrive both personally and professionally.
