Breaking Through Barriers
11/30/2024 10:05:00 AM | Gymnastics
Missouri gymnast Hannah Horton comes out on top after overcoming a daunting hurdle in her freshman year
Twisting and soaring through the air demands an immense amount of precision and timing.
Any gymnast knows that their mentality is half the battle in their effort to stick the perfect landing. Missouri gymnast Hannah Horton is a living example of what it means to take a stand against this obstacle.
In her debut season competing for the Tigers, Horton was named to the All-SEC Team and All-SEC Freshman Team, showcasing her qualities of adaptability and mental maturity.
Adjusting to the college level of athletics is difficult for any newcomer, but Horton established her dominance in the sport early on.
In her first collegiate meet at the Mizzou Invitational, Horton claimed the vault title and notched a 9.900 to take second on the floor event. She continued progressing her skills throughout the season but was met with a challenge a few weeks prior to the 2024 SEC Championships – the twisties.
This mental block creates a scary experience where the gymnast gets lost in the air due to a lack of spatial awareness. The brain and body fail to connect as they normally do.
It can also take a toll on a gymnast's confidence.
"I was just very down on myself, and it was quite a hard time during that–traveling all the time, practice and school," Horton said. "On top of that, I felt like I wasn't at the level I was at because I was struggling on floor and vault."
At a point of pressure where most athletes would falter, Horton dug deep to fight back. She had to remind herself of all that she had accomplished and how one bad turn did not define her athletic abilities.
"For gymnastics, you have to learn how to compartmentalize. If you're upset about something that happened in the last rotation, you have to learn how to cut that off and be better on the next event," Horton said.
The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota native was diligent to find support in all the resources she had, including Missouri gymnastics head coach Shannon Welker and her teammates. She was also receptive and open to any and all advice.
Horton even had the maturity to take a step back from competing at the Arkansas meet, recognizing that a break would allow her to refocus. Many athletes would try to push through moments of adversity such as these, maybe even to their team's detriment, but Horton had the courage to do what was best for her.
The decision ultimately strengthened her physically and mentally.
"So, I think now, especially with that happening, I had to be more intentional with myself so I can know what I did, so I could bring myself back on track," Horton said.
Earning two league accolades along with tallying the best score of the afternoon vault session at the 2024 SEC Championships was a testament to Horton's hard work and strength to rebound from a setback. Along with feeling a sense of accomplishment and reassurance, she has the grit and a fighting spirit to help propel her through any future challenge.
Horton's journey in developing as a gymnast and making it to Mizzou has always included her family.
Horton began her gymnastics career at the age of five after her older brother, John, taught her how to do a back handspring. After witnessing her success, he convinced their parents to sign her up for gymnastics classes.
While Horton grew up in Minnesota, her family roots are centered in Liberia. After most of her relatives left the country during a time of war, her father immigrated to the United States in 2001, with her mother and four siblings following three years later. Horton and her older sister, Vernice, were the only two children born in the states.
Horton also credits her father for showing her what dedication means. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she took a step away from gymnastics.
She planned to return for her final two years of high school, but collegiate gymnastics was not in the picture.
That's when her father started pushing her to consider continuing her sport in the college realm.
After deciding to go for it, Horton was worried about being too late in the process to receive an athletic scholarship. Most schools begin recruiting during the beginning of an athlete's junior year, but Horton was not on college's radar until the summer going into her senior year.
But Coach Welker quickly saw potential in Horton.
"Mizzou was just on top of it," Horton said. "They were the first school that reached out to me right after Nationals."
Horton describes her athletic scholarship as one of the proudest accomplishment over her gymnastics career in addition to receiving SEC honors. The whole family takes pride in the fact that she was the first member of the family to receive this unique opportunity.
As her second collegiate season approaches, Horton is excited to use her freshman experience to tackle her goals. This season, she wants to focus on maintaining consistency in every lineup so she can compete all-around.
The accolades Horton achieved as a freshman are extremely impressive on their own, but the character development that ascended her there is truly inspiring.
Players Mentioned
