Katelyn Ohashi Launches Bid for LA 2028 Olympic Return

Former UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi is pursuing a spot on the U.S. team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, according to reporting from The Guardian.

Ohashi, 29, previously left elite gymnastics in 2013 after a back injury ended her Olympic hopes at the time. While she later gained global recognition for her viral perfect 10 floor routines during her time at UCLA, she is now focusing on a return to elite competition on her own terms. To facilitate this comeback, Ohashi moved from Los Angeles to Woodinville, Washington, to train at Pacific Reign Gymnastics, a facility owned by her friend and former Stanford men's gymnast Cale Robinson.

Ohashi's current regimen includes training four days a week for four hours per day, supported by a team that includes a personal trainer and a physical therapist. Valorie Kondos Field, the former UCLA head coach, has also assisted Ohashi in refining a "badass" jazz-inspired floor routine that blends contemporary artistic gymnastics with classical elite elements. Kondos Field noted that Ohashi is focused on daily progress rather than fixating on specific scores.

Ohashi recently competed in her first senior meet at the American Classic in June and followed that with appearances on the beam and floor at the US Classic in July. The path to LA 2028 remains competitive, as only five gymnasts will make the U.S. team. Current contenders include world champion Leanne Wong, Olympic floor champion Jade Carey, and Tokyo all-around champion Sunisa Lee, who recently announced her own comeback.