Performing at Dickies Arena is becoming a major milestone for gymnasts across the country. The venue hosted the U.S. Championships in 2021 and this past weekend it hosted the NCAA Gymnastics Finals.
Jason Sands, executive director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission, said that every championship the city hosts builds on its reputation as a premier sports destination.
“The DFW Metroplex is a very strong gymnastics community. There’s over 80 gymnastics clubs in the Metroplex and Texas as a state has produced so many amazing gymnasts over the years,” Sands said. “And for us to be able to tap into that great history and traditions to support these gymnastics championship events, those with the NCAA and U.S. Gymnastics has been a huge win for our community.”
A University of Oklahoma gymnast warms up on the balance beam while team members look on during the team finals on Saturday, April 16th (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
Olympic all-around gold medalist Sunisa Lee strikes a pose during her floor routine. She scored 9.95 on floor during team finals on April 16 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
Trinity Thomas (left), who won the individual all-around title during the NCAA championships, gives her teammate a fist-bump and pep talk during Florida’s rotation on the balance beam. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
Jaedyn Rucker sticks her landing on the vault. She won the individual title for the vault during the April 14 competition. During the team competition she scored a 9.975 on the event. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
Sooner fans cheer on their team and mime O-U at Dickies Arena on Saturday, April 16. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum performs a wolf turn on the balance beam. Utah was in first place after the first and second rotations, but ultimately fell to third place. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
Members of the Florida gymnastics team flash tens while waiting for a score during their rotation on floor. Gator Trinity Thomas scored a perfect 10 on floor during semifinals on April 14 and team finals on April 16. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) 
An Oklahoma gymnast holds a handstand on the high bar during the team finals. The team was in last place after the first rotation, but their performance on bars during the third rotation pushed them into first place.
Four Olympians turned collegiate athletes were among those vying for individual and team titles: Jordan Chiles (UCLA) and Jade Carey (Oregon State), Sunisa Lee (Auburn) and Grace McCallum (Utah).
Collegiate gymnasts from around the country will continue to fight for the national collegiate title at Dickies Arena for the next four years.
Marcheta Fornoff covers the arts for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marcheta.fornoff@fortworthreport.org or on Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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