In their early 20s, most NCAA gymnasts have long since hung up their grips. Their competitive days are often behind them, memories frozen in highlight reels and team posters. But not for this athlete. After stepping away from the mat, she chose an unexpected path, trading competition for coaching, leotards for whistles, and routines for guiding others through theirs. Now, after a year behind the scenes, this Elk Grove, California, hometown gymnastics star is ready to put herself back in the spotlight. The fire, as she puts it, “never went out.” It just needed time.

Graduating from Boise State University in 2024, Courtney Blackson didn’t immediately chase a fifth year or search for transfer opportunities. Instead, life took her to Mountain West Gymnastics in Boise, Idaho, where she became a full-time coach in June 2024. In a world where athletes often struggle with the “what’s next,” coaching gave her a surprising sense of purpose. It grounded her, allowed her to reconnect with the roots of her sport, and gave her space to heal mentally, emotionally, and physically. It wasn’t an escape; it was a recalibration. But nothing comes so easily.

For gymnastics star Courtney Blackson, that year on the sidelines lit a new kind of fire. A former star at BSU, Courtney Blackson had faced her share of career setbacks, injuries, the intensity of elite-level performance, and the heavy expectation of always pushing forward. But working with young gymnasts rekindled something deeper: her own desire to compete. And now, she’s officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, chasing her final year of eligibility with a full heart and fresh clarity. As she puts it, “I am excited to officially announce that I have entered the transfer portal and am pursuing my fifth year of eligibility to compete in the NCAA.”

In a striking black-and-white photo she recently shared, Blackson stands poised before the uneven bars, chalk-dusted hands, and a fierce expression captured in time. “The fire never went out—just needed time to stoke the flame,” she wrote in her Instagram caption. It’s more than a comeback; it’s a declaration. One year as a coach gave her a new perspective; now she’s bringing that wisdom back to the competition floor. But why did she choose coaching? She could have used that year to compete on a big gymnastics mat instead.

Gymnastics’ star comeback story like no other

When Courtney Blackson arrived at Boise State, it wasn’t the typical college experience. The team was just emerging from the isolation of the COVID-19 shutdown: online classes, solo practices, and no social gatherings defined the early days. Gymnastics meets were canceled due to outbreaks, and the season often felt more uncertain than promising. But Blackson pushed through. Even with the odds stacked, she began to rise. In 2023, she made school history by landing a perfect 10 on vault—Boise State’s first ever and finished as the national runner-up in the same event at the NCAA Championships. Her star was rising, and the momentum seemed unstoppable. Then came the shock.

In March 2024, just as Boise State was finding its groove, Blackson suffered a severe calf strain during a warm-up pass. Doctors told her she’d be out for 4–6 weeks, effectively ending her season and possibly her career. She missed Senior Night. She missed the conference championship. Emotionally, it was crushing. Blackson described it as “heart-wrenching,” especially having to watch her teammates compete without her. But giving up? Not in her nature. So what did she do?

She powered through rehab, modified her training, and with less than 48 hours before the NCAA Regionals, she stuck her dismount. The next day, she not only competed but also scored a 9.950 on bars, qualifying for nationals in what her coach called a “Kerri Strug” moment. That comeback added one more defining twist to her already iconic gymnastics résumé. Over her career, Blackson collected 18 event titles across vault, bars, and floor. Off the mat, she maintained a stellar 3.84 GPA, graduating in 2024 with a degree in health studies and being named Mountain West Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. And even though she wrapped up her competitive career, Blackson isn’t done with gymnastics. Now, she stepped into a grinding role while also preparing for her next bold leap: becoming a firefighter. From overcoming a pandemic-era start to battling injury and returning stronger, she’s still on the mat, still pushing limits, just now in more ways than one.