No Place Like Home
10/11/2024 4:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Despite a year of international travel, Hu’s road brings her back to Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri gymnastics team bid farewell to Helen Hu after she graduated in the spring of 2023. Hu, a standout performer and leader for the Black and Gold over her four years, left a lasting mark on the program.
Following her senior season, Hu decided to travel the world, seeking an international perspective on culture. She visited countries like Guatemala, India, and Malaysia, exploring different customs, cuisines, and pastimes.
"My favorite countries to eat in were definitely Thailand and Vietnam. I love a good noodle soup," Hu said.
During her time abroad, she stepped away from gymnastics to focus on learning more about herself beyond athletics.
"Surfing was the most memorable experience for me, but it was so hard," Hu said. "I thought it would easy as a former athlete, but I was humbled. I remember thinking, 'You still have a lot to learn, Helen.'"
Hu embraced the challenge and even extended her trip to spend an extra month learning how to surf. "By the second month, I was standing up on those waves!" Hu said.
Hu's time away from gymnastics was short-lived. She returned to Columbia for the wedding of former teammate Adalayna Hufendiek-Schrimpf and visited the Tiger Performance Center, where she couldn't resist hopping back on the beam.
After a conversation with head coach Shannon Welker, who told her the program would welcome her back, Hu decided to rejoin Mizzou's roster for her final year of eligibility.
"It felt like I would be missing out on a really special opportunity that a lot of people either don't get or can't achieve," Hu said. "I feel like I owe it to myself, the sport, and the team to come back for one final year."
Hu made an immediate impact as a freshman, consistently competing on both bars and beam. In her first season, she ranked ninth nationally on beam (9.955 NQS) and tied for 12th on bars (9.910 NQS).
She became a top all-around athlete for Missouri during the 2020 season, posting 14 scores of 9.9 or better — the highest individual marks for a first-year Mizzou gymnast since 2010. Her all-around average of 39.525 ranks among the top in program history for a freshman.
Hu's sophomore year was cut short by an ACL tear, forcing her to redshirt. Despite the setback, she bounced back in 2023, tying two of her career highs with a 9.975 on beam at the Mizzou Quad and a 9.95 on bars at the SEC Championships.
Over her career, Hu collected numerous accolades, including All-American honors in 2020 and 2023 and All-SEC selections in 2020, 2022, and 2023. She was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, earned the SEC Event Specialist of the Year title, and was recognized four times as SEC Freshman of the Week and SEC Event Specialist of the Week.
Hu excelled in the classroom as well, consistently earning a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll during her time as a student-athlete.
After three successful years competing, Hu knew she had unfinished business at Hearnes Center. She saw the 2025 season as the perfect opportunity to finish her gymnastics journey.
"When I thought about coming back, I knew I needed to return for this year because of the excitement I felt," Hu said. "I knew I had more to give and believed I could do more. I also wanted to help the program continue growing and be part of this special sport."
Hu rejoins a core of 12 student-athletes from the 2024 season, which marked Mizzou's fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Regional Final. The team aims to reach nationals this season, which would mark the first trip to Fort Worth, Texas since 2022.
Despite having spent a year experiencing life in 15 different countries, Hu is ready to return to her old stomping grounds for one final chapter in her gymnastics career.
2025 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets for the 2025 Mizzou gymnastics season are on sale at MUTigers.com/Tickets. The Tigers will compete in eight conference meets, hosting Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, and Auburn, and traveling to Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, and Arkansas. The full schedule will be announced later.
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