​After a 13-year hiatus from the sport, UCLA gymnastics icon Katelyn Ohashi is aiming to make history at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Now 29, Ohashi returned to competition at the 2026 American Classic on June 27, signaling her comeback after a remarkable career in collegiate and international gymnastics. Before stepping away, Ohashi stood among the sport’s elite, guiding UCLA to a national championship and capturing the floor exercise title at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Her rivalry and breakthrough moment came earlier, when she defeated seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles for the all-around crown at the 2013 American Cup.
Photos from her earlier career show Ohashi in a dominate form, such as the 2017 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis, where she delivered a standout floor routine for UCLA at Chaifetz Arena. During her return at the American Classic, Ohashi tied for third on balance beam and also performed on floor, reaffirming that she remains a formidable competitor. Her next major step will be the U.S. Classic on July 18, followed by the U.S. Championships, the event that determines Team USA’s Olympic roster.
If Ohashi earns a spot on the Olympic team, she would become the oldest U.S. female gymnast to qualify for the Games, surpassing the recent record set by Simone Biles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, when Biles was 27. Ohashi is set to turn 31 on April 12, 2028, adding a compelling narrative to a bid anchored in experience and perseverance. “I want to have fun with it,” Ohashi stated during a video press conference cited by the Los Angeles Times. “I want to see how far I can go with it, and how far I can push myself.” She also kept a light tone about her status, joking, “It’s really funny, also, because, like, I’m pretty much a senior citizen.”
Historically, gymnasts at the Olympic level skew younger, but the trend has shifted in recent Games. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA stood out as the oldest U.S. women’s gymnastics squad since 1952, with Biles, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Suni Lee all competing in their 20s. The possibility exists that Team USA could tilt even older for the 2028 Games if Ohashi earns a place on the team and joins Carey, who is 26, in a veteran-heavy roster. Carey herself competed at the American Classic alongside Ohashi and is pursuing a third Olympic appearance.
As Ohashi continues to pursue Olympic glory, fans and analysts will watch how her combination of veteran savvy, renewed training, and past championship prowess translates into a realistic route to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Her journey adds a dramatic twist to the home Games, where a legendary UCLA athlete could become a central figure in Team USA’s quest for gold. The broader narrative underscores the evolving blend of youthful energy and seasoned expertise that characterizes contemporary elite gymnastics. If she makes the team, Ohashi would not only extend her remarkable career but also inspire a new generation of gymnasts who dream of competing at the highest level on home soil. The timeline now points toward the U.S. Classic, the national championships, and eventually the Olympic selection, all of which will determine whether Katelyn Ohashi can etch her name into Olympic history once more.