FORT WORTH, Texas — With famous actor Samuel L. Jackson in the house, LSU and Kailin Chio were set up for a classic Hollywood ending Saturday in the NCAA championship final.
Chio, likely to be the national gymnast of the year, stepped to the balance beam, needing yet another perfect 10 to lift the Tigers to the NCAA title.
Unfortunately for LSU and Chio, there was no happily ever after. She had a minor balance check during her routine and a small hop on her landing for a 9.90, as Oklahoma squeaked past LSU 198.125-198.0750 for the championship.
“It was kind of hard to tell (where LSU stood) because we were counting a fall,” Chio said. “I knew it would be close either way. I know I needed to hit. I just kind of went up there, did my beam routine and hopefully did my best.”
Considering how great Chio was for the Tigers throughout the 2026 season, one more 10 not only seemed possible but likely. Nevermind that what she was being asked to do was the rough equivalent of asking someone to hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth to win the World Series.
“We can’t put that on that kid,” LSU coach Jay Clark said. “She’s snatched us out of the fire so many times. It’s a team effort from top to bottom.
“She’s hard on herself. She wants that 10th back. But everyone can find a 10th where they could have done something better.”
The nation’s scoring leader in the all-around, on beam and vault, Chio just missed winning NCAA individual titles in Thursday’s semifinals in the all-around and on floor, finishing second in both.
Saturday, she sparked her team yet again on vault, getting 10.0 marks from all six judges for the first perfect score in an NCAA final since 2023. That momentum propelled LSU to a 49.6125 on uneven bars that gave the Tigers a 148.600-148.525 lead on the Sooners going to the final rotation.
Just a sophomore, Chio got 13 perfect 10s this season (five on vault), one off the single-season record of 14 by Kyla Ross of UCLA in 2019. She’s now halfway to the all-time perfect 10s record of 28 shared by Trinity Thomas of Florida, Jenny Hansen of Kentucky and Jamie Dantzscher of UCLA, and only four shy of the school record of 18 by current assistant coach Haleigh Bryant.
Chio finished the season with 44 individual titles, fourth-most for a Tiger, and now has 67 wins in two seasons, eighth-most in program history.
Afterward, though, Chio wasn’t much for dwelling on individual achievements.
“I think if you know me well enough, it’s the team that matters most to me,” Chio said. “I’m just proud of my hard work. Proud of my dedication to the sport and the passion that I have, and just hopefully leading the team in the right direction.”
A team she has a chance to lead for two more seasons.
“We’re going to come back next year,” Chio said, “and get it done.”
