First gymnastics practise at HBCU Fisk University becomes viral on TikTok

Fisk University

In February, Fisk University made history by being the first HBCU to publicly announce the formation of a gymnastics team.

gymnastics team of Fisk University

The very first gymnastics team in the history of Fisk University is pleased to be making movements — and history! This past week, the Nashville HBCU (historically Black college or institution) held its first practise, and one of its members posted a video that has since gone viral in which she displayed the outstanding skills of her teammates. Zyia, who is known on TikTok by the username @zyiaalexys, uploaded a video in which the team stretches and expertly performs a variety of flips, including some pretty spectacular manoeuvres on balance beams. Zyia commented over the video, which has about 725,000 views, more than 215,000 likes, and 6,000 comments, "First gymnastics practise in all of Fisk University's history."

Head gymnastics coach at the university

She pointed out in the caption that the team is the first of its kind for any HBCU, and she added, "let's get it!" The video was uploaded to the official Fisk University Twitter feed, along with the caption "Oh nothing, just making history!" Corrine Tarver, who is the head gymnastics coach at the university, has already discussed the impact that she is anticipating the first-ever team to have. In the beginning of this year, Tarver expressed to NewsOne how amazing it was to be the first HBCU. "What this does is open up chances for females who want to have an HBCU experience and perform gymnastics at the same time because it just wasn't something that was an option before," said one commentator. "It just wasn't something that was an option before."

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NCAA All-Around competition

In addition, Tarver, who has already made history by becoming the first Black gymnast to win the NCAA All-Around competition, stated that there is another barrier that she hopes the team will be able to shatter. "Sometimes gymnasts who are Black or Brown are viewed as not having the ideal body type, or they don't have the correct lines, or things of that sort," she said. 

"This is something that happens very frequently." Therefore, if they are not the superstars, there is a greater chance that they will be neglected somewhat. Because I know how they must be feeling, this presents an opportunity for them to have a place, and I would want to extend an invitation to those girls to join our team.

Statement made by the university

According to a statement made by the university, "Woman's gymnastics epitomises the principles of Fisk University," which include "determination," "excellence," and "a dedication to a more just and equitable future." "These ideals have always been at the forefront of women's gymnastics, and Fisk University could not be more delighted to welcome these extraordinary student-athletes to the campus beginning in the fall," said Fisk.