Athlete, Coach

Media Studies - University of Denver: United States

English

She tore her right Achilles tendon in 2020 and her left Achilles tendon in 2022, requiring surgery on both occasions. (gopsusports.com, 11 Jul 2023; du.edu, 24 May 2023; denverpost.com, 09 Apr 2023)

Her brothers. (denverpost.com, 09 Apr 2023)

While representing the University of Denver in the United States of America, she was named Big 12 Conference co-Gymnast of the Year and Region 2 Gymnast of the Year for 2021. In 2018 she was named Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Year, while in 2023 she was a finalist for the Honda Inspiration Award, which recognises a US female collegiate athlete who has overcome hardship. (denverpioneers.com, 01 Jun 2023)

REPRESENTING HAITI
Born in the United States of America, she is eligible to represent Haiti through her father. Haitian-born gymnast Yvenel Stephan encouraged her to compete for the nation. "He reached out to me last summer [in 2022] and was like, 'Hey, I'm working on actually making this happen. Do you want to do it, too?'" (olympics.com, 27 Apr 2023)

COLLEGIATE CAREER
Having trained with elite gymnasts at the Great American Gymnastics Express [GAGE] club in Blue Springs, MO, United States of America, she was in doubt about her abilities. However, she was then convinced to join the University of Denver, where she went on to set a university all-around record in 2021 and help the team achieve its highest ever US national finish [fourth] in the team event in 2019. "I honestly didn't plan on going to college, I didn't really know it was a thing. I visited one school, and it was not super fun. After that Linas [Gaveika], our associate head coach [at Denver], kept calling and calling, and my coach was like, 'You've got to call this man back!' So, I did, reluctantly, because I didn't think I could make it in college in any sense, athletically or academically. Coming out of GAGE that has Olympians like almost every quad, I just didn't feel like I measured up. To hear that people wanted me was super rewarding and exciting." (denverpioneers.com, 01 Jun 2023, 20 Apr 2019; olympics.com, 23 Feb 2023)

EARLY DAYS
When she was at school she almost quit the sport for financial reasons, but was able to continue with support from her coaches at the Great American Gymnastics Express [GAGE] club in Blue Springs, MO, United States of America. "My mum [who passed away in 2019] had some health issues back then, and I had to quit because she was hospitalised. We couldn't afford it. My club coaches called her and were like, 'She's too good to quit'. So, they offered to pay my tuition from fifth grade till I graduated high school because we couldn't afford it. That was definitely a moment when I realised that I was good [at gymnastics] and that people cared enough about my success to do tremendous favours for me and my family. I didn't even find out about [getting her club dues covered] until after high school. Looking back now, there's been so many things that have happened to keep me in the sport. That was one of the big moments." (denverpost.com, 09 Apr 2023; olympics.com, 23 Feb 2023)

COACHING
In 2023 she joined the gymnastics coaching staff at Pennsylvania State University in the United States of America. "I'm honoured for the opportunity to be at Penn State as I transition from the athlete experience to the coaching experience. My heart will forever be in the sport and I can't wait to begin the journey with such a remarkable team and staff." (gopsusports.com, 11 Jul 2023)

FURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied for a master's degree in communication management at the University of Denver in the United States of America. (gopsusports.com, 11 Jul 2023)