ROSEMONT, Ill. — UCLA’s Jordan Chiles was named the 2026 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year on Monday, capping a dominant season that saw her rewrite the conference record book. The award, voted on by the Big Ten’s 12 head coaches, highlights a year of exceptional performances for Chiles and a continued reign for the UCLA Bruins in the conference. The recognition underscores the growing competitiveness within Big Ten women’s gymnastics, even as UCLA solidifies its position as a national powerhouse.
Chiles’s achievement is particularly notable given the high standard of competition within the Big Ten, which now includes several historically strong programs. Her all-around score of 39.825 at the 2026 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships wasn’t just a championship win; it was the highest all-around score ever recorded at the event. This performance, coupled with her 11th all-around title of the season, cements her status as one of the top collegiate gymnasts in the country. The conference’s announcement also recognized Michigan’s Carly Bauman, Minnesota’s Arianna Ostrum, and UCLA’s Janelle McDonald for their respective contributions to the sport.
Chiles’s Record-Breaking Season
The senior gymnast’s impact extended beyond the all-around competition. Chiles secured outright victories on balance beam (9.950) and floor exercise (10.0), repeating her perfect 10 on floor from the previous year. She became only the second gymnast in Big Ten history to achieve a score of 39.800 or higher at the championships. Her consistency throughout the season was also remarkable, earning her a record-breaking 10 Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors. UCLA Athletics confirmed that Chiles is the first Bruin in program history to receive the Gymnast of the Year award.
McDonald Earns Second Consecutive Coach of the Year Honor
UCLA’s success wasn’t solely attributable to individual brilliance. Head coach Janelle McDonald was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, a testament to her ability to cultivate a winning program. Under McDonald’s leadership, the Bruins completed a perfect 9-0 record in conference meets and remained undefeated against Big Ten opponents in both non-conference and postseason competitions. According to UCLA Athletics, the team achieved a score of 198.100 at the Big Ten Championships, becoming just the fifth team in conference history to surpass the 198 mark.
Rising Stars and Program Firsts
Beyond Chiles and McDonald, the Big Ten awards highlighted emerging talent and program milestones. Michigan’s Carly Bauman made history as the first Wolverine to be named Big Ten Event Specialist of the Year, recognized for her exceptional performance on floor exercise, where she finished second with a score of 9.950. Minnesota’s Arianna Ostrum earned the Freshman of the Year title, becoming the fourth Golden Gopher to receive the honor and the first since 2018. Ostrum’s performance included a co-championship on vault (9.950) and all-championships team selections on vault, floor exercise, and in the all-around.
UCLA’s depth was also on full display, with four Bruins earning All-Big Ten honors: Chiles, Ashlee Sullivan, and Tiana Sumanasekera on the first team, and Ciena Alipio on the second team. Sullivan and Sumanasekera were also recognized as all-freshman team selections, further demonstrating the program’s ability to develop young talent.
2026 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Individual Awards
- Gymnast of the Year: Jordan Chiles, UCLA
- Event Specialist of the Year: Carly Bauman, Michigan
- Freshman of the Year: Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota
- Coach of the Year: Janelle McDonald, UCLA
The Big Ten’s announcement signals not only the conclusion of a successful 2026 season but also sets the stage for continued growth and competition within the conference. With UCLA’s continued dominance and the emergence of talented athletes like Ostrum and Bauman, the future of Big Ten women’s gymnastics appears bright. The conference will likely continue to attract top recruits and elevate the overall level of competition in the years to come.
Looking ahead, the Big Ten Conference will begin preparations for the 2027 season, with schedules and competition dates expected to be released later this summer. Fans can find the latest updates and information on the official Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics website.
What are your thoughts on these awards? Share your comments below and let us know which performances stood out to you this season.
