Despite her immense talent, expectations were extremely low for Oklahoma’s Faith Torrez entering Thursday’s NCAA all-around gymnastics semifinals. Torrez missed most of the season dealing with an injury and didn’t start training until February.
Even then, she was mostly limited to just two all-around events. Because of that, Thursday would actually be the first time all season Torrez competed in the all around.
And she still managed to win the event.
Torrez toppled all other competitors, posting a 39.7875 total score and winning the all-around title. After the victory, she said competing in the event seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago, per ESPN.
“If you would have [told] me probably two and a half weeks ago that I would be in this position right now doing four [events], like living out my dream right now, I’d probably laugh at you,” Torrez said after the trophy ceremony. “I had no intentions of doing this at the beginning of the season, middle of the season, but to be here and have everything kind of just play out as it did was really amazing. I’m really grateful for that.”
Due to an ankle injury, Torrez was limited to uneven bars and balance beam throughout the season. It wasn’t until after the SEC championships — which ended March 21 — that Torrez started training on the floor again.
Given her late start, Torrez had not performed a floor routine all season … until Thursday.
Thanks to Torrez’s performance, Oklahoma will move on to Saturday’s championship meet. The team will complete against Florida, LSU and Minnesota for the title.
Saturday will also give Torrez another chance to compete after being limited most of the season. With a win, Oklahoma would secure its fourth gymnastics championship in the last five seasons.
The only other team that has captured the title since 2022 is LSU, which Oklahoma will face Saturday.
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