Creating Opportunities Out of Setbacks
11/22/2024 4:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Mizzou gymnast Olivia Kelly has impacted the lives of many, even as a freshman
In 10 years, freshman Olivia Kelly of the University of Missouri's gymnastics team wants to be known for her scholarship foundation, her children's book as well as her athletic career.
Hailing from Barbados, Kelly is one of the few collegiate gymnasts representing the Caribbean and has already impressively done so in a huge way.
She signed with Mizzou as the eighth-ranked gymnast nationally in the 2024 class according to CollegeGymNews.com but has also laid a strong foundation to build her legacy outside of sport at the young age of 18.
"When I look back at my athletic career, I hope people remember me as the whole person – the gymnast, what I did for others and my community, how I made people feel and how I upheld my values," Kelly said.
Even before her arrival in Columbia, Kelly's list of accolades is both lengthy and impressive. She is a two-time World Championship Qualifier, a four-time Level 10 USAG National Qualifier and was the first Barbadian woman to compete at the Pan American Championships in gymnastics. She was also the first to qualify and compete at Worlds.
After representing her heritage in professional gymnastics with North Stars, Kelly and her former club teammate, Alana Walker, who now attends Stanford, established the Stronger Together Foundation.
The organization gives scholarships to girls across the Caribbean to help them succeed in the professional gymnastics world and provide resources to their gyms. They aim to give one scholarship to a Caribbean gymnast each year.
"I hope that these young women get to experience gymnastics the way I do," Kelly said. "I find it so important for athletes to have the space that allows them to participate in the sport that they love without having to worry about external conflicts. The idea of the Stronger Together Foundation is to allow gymnasts to put their all into the sport instead of having to worry about other things like equipment and clinics, which add up in price quickly."
After feeling like outsiders when they competed, Kelly and Walker made it a mission to bring inclusivity to the international gymnastics scene.
They recently awarded their first scholarship to Tiyamike Kaswaswa, a level six gymnast from Flip Gym in Barbados. Since being selected, Kaswaswa has had the opportunity to bring in new equipment and clinics for her gym to help not just herself, but others grow and succeed on bigger stages, too.
Kelly aims to impact young gymnasts as well, and has already begun to accomplish that goal with her book, Am I Too Tall For Gymnastics?
"I'm a little bit on the taller side in the gymnastics world, and I felt the stigma that comes with it," said Kelly. "I wanted to kind of touch on that experience, with how much it impacted me, and help inspire other girls that are going through the same thing. It can be hard to imagine yourself being successful in this sport at a certain height, and I want others to know that if I did it, they can, too."
Since coming into college gymnastics, Kelly has been working to make herself visible to up-and-coming gymnasts and hopes they will be inspired by her to compete in the collegiate scene. This was not always her goal, however.
"For me, growing up, the goal was always to go pro," said Kelly. "Since college gymnastics wasn't super popular when I was growing up and the majority of athletes I followed would go professional right away. Then the rule was passed that you could do both, and seeing others take that route inspired me to pursue it."
Kelly is already working to become the role model she did not have for the new generation of gymnasts that will come after her. She's paved her path, according to her principles, to inspire young athletes that Kelly wished she had.
Kelly has a long way to go until her legacy with Mizzou gymnastics is solidified, but starting the Stronger Together Foundation and her book, Am I Too Tall For Gymnastics?, has certainly touched the lives of many already.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season ticket renewals for the 2025 Mizzou gymnastics season are on sale now at MUTigers.com/Tickets. In addition to hosting "Beauty and the Beast" for the team's regular season opener, the Tigers will host SEC home duals against Kentucky, Georgia and Auburn.
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