Interview With Kyra Willcox

How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport?

My mom was a gymnast growing up, so she actually tried to keep me out of the sport! When I was 8, my older sister wanted to try a gymnastics class, so my mom signed both of us up. After that very first class, the coach asked me to join the team, and the rest is history! What started as something I was just tagging along for turned into something I fell in love with and eventually wanted to pursue at the collegiate level.

What was your favorite meet, your favorite and least favorite events, and the hardest/easiest skill you ever trained?

My favorite competition was Nationals in 2026. It wasn’t necessarily about my scores or placements, but everything I had to overcome just to get there. After injuring my knee at my first meet of the season, I wasn’t sure what the rest of my season would look like. Making it back to compete at Nationals just a few months later meant more to me than any medal because I knew how hard I had worked to get there. My favorite events are bars and vault, and my least favorite is beam. One of the hardest things I’ve learned was three different release moves on bars, while my Ray has always been one of the skills that comes more naturally to me.

Gymnastics is incredibly mental. What was your hardest struggle during your time as a gymnast? How did you deal with nerves, pressure, and getting in your head or temporarily "losing" a skill?

My biggest mental struggle was recovering from a knee injury at the beginning of my season. The hardest part wasn’t necessarily the physical pain, but having to watch from the sidelines while my teammates continued training and competing. When you’ve spent so much of your life working toward something, it’s hard to suddenly have it taken away, even temporarily. That experience taught me patience, perseverance, and how to focus on what I could control instead of everything I was missing. I set a goal to compete at State, and eventually making it all the way to Nationals was a reminder that setbacks don’t have to determine your future. My family runs a nonprofit called The Ranch 4 Athletes, which focuses on the mental wellness of athletes by providing a place where they can step away from the pressures of their sport and just be themselves. Being around college athletes and hearing their experiences has helped me realize that no matter what level you compete at, everyone faces struggles that aren’t always visible. It’s reminded me that my worth isn’t determined by a score, a medal, or how I perform on any given day. Gymnastics is something I love, but it doesn’t define who I am.

What was your biggest accomplishment in the sport, and did you ever want to do college gymnastics?

My biggest accomplishment wasn’t necessarily winning a championship, but making it to Level 10 Nationals after the knee injury at the beginning of my season. There was a time when I was watching from the sidelines, wondering what the rest of my season would look like. Being able to come back and compete at Nationals meant more to me than any medal because of everything it took to get there. Competing in college has always been one of my biggest dreams, and I’m excited to have verbally committed to Utah State University! I’m looking forward to continuing my gymnastics career at the collegiate level and seeing how much more I can grow as both an athlete and a person.

How did you cope when your time as a gymnast ended, and did you transition into coaching or are you currently still competing?

Yes! I’m currently a Level 10 gymnast at Cypress Gymnastics Academy, and I’m continuing to train and prepare for my upcoming season! And excited to continue my gymnastics career at Utah State University!!

Who was your gymnastics role model, and what advice would you give to someone starting the sport for the first time?

One of my biggest athletic role models is Lindsey Vonn. Even though she’s not a gymnast, I admire her determination, mental toughness, and ability to overcome injuries and setbacks throughout her career. After experiencing my own injury, her story became even more inspiring to me. I was also honored to receive a scholarship from the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, which made that connection even more special. My advice to younger gymnasts would be to enjoy the journey and remember that one bad practice, meet, or setback doesn’t define you. There will be hard days, but those moments can teach you some of the most important lessons. Believe in yourself, work hard, and never forget that you’re so much more than your sport.

What two goals you want to achieve in the sport of gymnastics?

My two biggest goals are to win a national championship and become an All-American gymnast in college. I know both goals will take a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, but I’m excited to keep pushing myself and see what I can accomplish. More than anything, I want to look back on my gymnastics career knowing I gave it everything I had.