In 2019, we saw one NCAA gymnastics floor routine go viral during the season, and it vaulted UCLA's Katelyn Ohashi into the national spotlight once again. She wasn't the first gymnast to garner hundreds of thousands of views on the Internet by way of dancing and flipping, and she certainly won't be the last.
So, Internet-goers, I present to you the next collegiate gymnast who deserves worldwide attention: Her name is Alicia Boren. She soars through the air and dances like M.C. Hammer for the Florida Gators gymnastics team.
As a senior last year, Boren featured a floor routine fans of all ages can appreciate as she took you through a myriad of different decades of music.
Alicia Boren's UF Gymnastics Routine
The choreography features nods to M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This", Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz' "Get Low" and Fifth Harmony's "Worth it". She even throws in a "nae nae" and hits the "shoot" dance, all while injecting her own personal flair before ending the routine with (what else?) a Gator chomp.
But Boren did more than turn the arena into a dance floor. She showcased her ridiculous power with each tumbling pass, whipping her body through the air like a propeller. Though she stands just 4-foot-11, she packs a punch.
And her performances definitely didn't go unnoticed.
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Judges took notice, too. Boren took home SEC Gymnast of the Week following Florida's season-opening win against Missouri. She was also instrumental in fourth-ranked UF's win over No. 2 LSU, which snapped the Tigers' 35-home meet win streak.
But just what does it take for a routine to be retweeted and shared by hundreds of thousands of people the way Ohashi and many others have done?
Maybe one needs to look like they're having the time of their life. Maybe it just takes insane talent. Personally, I think the choreography needs to resonate with a wide audience. If people don't understand the references in your floor routine, what would make them want to watch it?
Gymnastics moves that even a casual viewer can recognize as difficult might draw them in, too. Take Ohashi's bouncy split thing (technical terms only here!) for example. The human body shouldn't be able to do this.
Katelyn Ohashi's Perfect 10
Boren's routine may not be as jaw-dropping as that, but I think it has all the makings of a viral routine over and over again.
This article was originally published on January 23, 2019, but we still can't get over how much more athletic these girls are than we'll ever dream to be.
