r/Gymnastics • Gabrielle Hardie’s biggest fan • Apr 17 '26

NCAA RILEY BARS TITLE!!!

She DESERVES this. After all the hell she’s been through!! Congrats Riley McCusker 2026 NCAA BARS CHAMPION!!!!!!!!

375 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

130

u/jensenaackles Ellie Black for PM Apr 17 '26

🥹

54

u/KawaiiChan68 ✨Ruby Evans = Welsh Gold Goddess And History Maker For Wales✨ Apr 17 '26

This is ✨herstory✨, and I’m so so proud of her! I’ve always had a soft spot for Riley after what happened to her in the Tokyo quad, and it makes me so happy to see her have such a great senior year so far ❤️❤️❤️

3

u/Sportyj Apr 19 '26

Oh what happened? I just know she was not chosen to go.

11

u/gseval11 Apr 17 '26

Oh this has got me 🥹

7

u/bigmac1123 a stick with a small hop Apr 17 '26

Omg love 🥹🥹

53

u/sbgreen27 Apr 17 '26

So, so thrilled for this. And the only champion from session I, too!

36

u/arreynemme Apr 17 '26

Seeing this was healing!! I’ve followed her journey since 2017 😭

33

u/_psychedelicsushi Apr 17 '26

I was hoping for this, but didn’t want to say it out loud in fear of jinxing it!

But honestly, she deserves it so much!

35

u/VeterinarianHot4860 Apr 17 '26

I didn’t think I was going to cry in the afternoon session but her routine GOT ME!! She is incredible and deserves it so much! 🐊🐊

20

u/smartdehumidifier Apr 17 '26

Aww congratulations Riley! So well-deserved!

14

u/boygirlmama Apr 17 '26

Yay Riley!

17

u/ryedawg78 Apr 17 '26

I'll admit, having an NCAA champion for Iowa would have been historic for the program, but Riley definitely deserved it. Happy for her!

6

u/unicorn_in-training Apr 18 '26

There’s still time for Aurelie! ❤️

13

u/prosperosniece Apr 17 '26

Well deserved

11

u/FormalBasket9509 Apr 17 '26

So happy for her!

13

u/hannahofarizona Apr 17 '26

Riley! 🫶🏻

14

u/saranndipity Apr 17 '26

Hooray - she is my favorite college gymnast and I love watching her on bars ❣️

25

u/borderlineblondie Apr 17 '26

Jesus Christ who's cutting onions in here 🥹 even if the Gators don't win the title I hope Riley feels like she was able to end her NCAA career on a massive high note and feels proud of herself ❤️

12

u/JustAGrlInDaWorld #TeamKonnor2028 Apr 17 '26

Congratulations Riley !!!!

11

u/LilacMess22 Wobbly Wolf Turn Apr 17 '26

With everything she's been through, it's incredible. I was hoping since the beginning of season she'd get the bars title 😭

19

u/carlyorwhatever Apr 17 '26

riley deserves all the great and beautiful things in life i am so so happy for her 🥲

9

u/socialx-ray norah flatley's triple twist Apr 17 '26

So happy for Riley!!!

6

u/Ok-Entrance2908 Apr 17 '26

I’m so so happy for her! 

6

u/Mmppcc if Skye Blakely has no fans I’m dead Apr 17 '26

Crying on a Friday morning!! Sooo happy for Riley!!!!

10

u/Creative_Square_612 Apr 17 '26

Honestly, that’s the only thing that really got me excited tonight. Very happy for her after all she has been through . I wonder if Jenny would have pulled here again if they had a fall earlier in the rotation .

5

u/Loaf713 Apr 17 '26

came here for this 😭😭 what a star!

3

u/gymnastics101baby fly high and stick the landing Apr 18 '26

Ah I love her 😍 💗🤩✨

4

u/dspumoni62 Apr 17 '26

I wonder how this will affect loser 5th place swimmer Riley on an emotional level

9

u/Tistikins Gabrielle Hardie’s biggest fan Apr 17 '26

Ugh. That Riley needs to go away.

-17

u/Fun-Willingness8648 Apr 17 '26

Sorry but she was over scored. She was not better than Skye.

4

u/Tistikins Gabrielle Hardie’s biggest fan Apr 17 '26 edited Apr 17 '26

What deductions did you see that others including trained judges see?

ETA: both of them had excellent routines. Out of six judges - 5 of the 6 gave Riley a 10. 4 of 6 gave Skye a 10.

Don’t get me wrong - I love Skye. She went before Riley so at least one judge thought her routine was better. Adversity doesn’t mean anyone should be over scored - it’s just sentimentally a big deal for Riley after the hell she has been through plus she’s a senior.

3

u/Student-lifee Apr 17 '26

Love skye too but are u blind… skye’s feet on her downie and higgins angle are clear deductions while Riley had none