Injuries are part and parcel of an athlete’s career. However, sometimes things take some dark turns. And that is exactly what happened with an Oklahoma Sooners star. While her talent was unparalleled, her career was also marred by injuries. It was these same injuries that ended her career prematurely 5 years ago. What followed was as obvious as it was heartbreaking: retirement. But now, all these years later, it seems that while one door was closed for her, another had opened. But is she happy with this decision?
So, who is the gymnast we are talking about here? Well, it is none other than the Sooners’ star gymnast, Jordan Bowers. After making her way out of the elites, Bowers continued her career as a level 10 athlete. And while she has been doing quite average lately, Bowers shone just at the right time. Competing in the NCAA Regional Finals in Seattle, Bowers dropped one of the biggest performances of her career.
Bowers dropped a whopping three perfect 10s on the night. Surely, Bowers cannot be happier. Catching up for a quick interview, Bowers was asked sarcastically to reveal what diet she was on! That was because Bowers failed to score a single perfect 10 in the entire season. And then, she just came in and dropped 3!
Revealing the secret to her impeccable performance, Bowers stated, “Yes, I just felt a sense of, like, freeness coming into tonight, and I just, especially from day one to day two, really wanted to feel the freeness and just give my full confidence and just do my gymnastics, what I do every single day, and that’s exactly what I did.” Well, that surely worked wonders for Bowers. And her resilience and zeal to succeed were also on full display.
no moment is bigger than you pic.twitter.com/zSTpZQ1X3h
— Oklahoma Women’s Gym (@OU_WGymnastics) April 7, 2025
Going up on the bars, Bowers made a salute as she did her routine. When asked about the same, the gymnast strongly conveyed that she was determined to enjoy the moment without succumbing to the pressure. She stated, “I said, no moment is bigger than you, and just go out there and do what you know how to do. And have fun. Have fun.”
Surely, going into the semis, the Sooners will be expecting more from their gymnast in shining armor. Meanwhile, things have been looking quite great for Jordan Bowers lately. After all, she is the SEC Gymnast Of The Year 2025.
Jordan Bowers just etched her name into SEC history
The Oklahoma senior gymnast has been named the 2025 SEC Gymnast of the Year. And with that she became the first Sooner to earn a major honor since the program joined the conference. Ranked No. 2 nationally in the all-around, Bowers has turned in a dominant season, competing all-around in every meet with a flawless hit rate and delivering 18 event titles.
Seven of those 18 came in the all-around. Her consistency and poise have made her a standout in a league brimming with talent. In 2025 alone, Jordan recorded 38 scores of 9.9 or higher, with 18 of those reaching 9.95 or above. Her all-around excellence is underscored by nine performances of 39.600 or higher, including three that cracked the 39.700 mark.
Her national rankings reflect that excellence—No. 3 on floor and No. 4 on beam. The Lincoln, Nebraska native also secured All-SEC honors in the all-around bars, beam, and floor. This marks the second straight year Bowers has claimed a conference Gymnast of the Year honor, earning the Big 12 award in 2024 before OU transitioned to the SEC. The recognition cements her as a force across leagues and seasons and, perhaps most notably, a gymnast who’s not done yet.
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