When Naimah Muhammad first slipped on her Fisk leotard and stepped onto the mat in 2023, it wasn’t just the start of a season—it was the start of history. Fisk University had just become the first HBCU to launch a women’s gymnastics program, and she was part of the founding team, carrying hopes bigger than the floor routines she mastered. Now, just two years later, Muhammad is watching the dream unravel. However, an email changed everything. The name of Fisk would be diminishing, and Muhammad is raising her voice against this…

On June 7, Fisk University announced via email that its gymnastics program would shut down after the 2025–26 season. The decision marked the end of the first-ever HBCU women’s gymnastics team.

The reason? Scheduling problems and recruitment drawbacks. In response to the news, recent Fisk English Literature graduate, Naimah Muhammad, took to Instagram to express her dissatisfaction with her teammates and future students. She disagreed with the reasoning of the university, and she also revealed the number of messages she got every day about this.

She posted several stories on her Instagram today and showed the messages she is receiving about the disheartening closure of the gymnastics program. In the first story, she wrote, “©fiskuniversity everyone has an issue with this decision.”

The screenshot showed a big message from her follower on Instagram stating, “It brings a bad look to all hbcu gymnastics considering Talledega also shut down their program. It’s going to make parents and students hesitant to send their kids to hbcu programs, specifically gymnastics, because they’re worried the schools aren’t gonna be able to provide the stability and security to support their athletes and future athletes who dream of doing what they love at an hbu. It not only is a bad look for the school but sets HBCUs back TREMENDOUSLY.”

The decision to cut Fisk’s program also came after big names opted out. Most notably, Morgan Price — the first HBCU gymnast to score a perfect 10 and win a national title — announced she would transfer from Fisk to the University of Arkansas for her final season. Meanwhile, this was not the end of the tirade of messages Muhammad showed in the following Instagram stories as proof of how disappointed people are.

Naimah Muhammad gives proof of frustration regarding the Fisk University gymnastics shutdown

When Fisk University started the program to make history back in 2022, several students hoped that many HBCU programs would follow their path. However, the journey was not so smooth. In 2024, Talladega College joined Fisk as the 2nd HBCU to support a women’s gymnastics team. However, the program was eventually shut down due to funding problems. Wilberforce University also joined Fisk as one of the active programs. Unfortunately, Wilberforce may be the only program standing at the end of 2026. 

Muhammad shared what the university posted about the latest news as well. She shared it in her Instagram story on June 9th, 2025.  The post read, “Wilberforce University at Wilberforce is praying that your program remains open and strong. We have never been competitors, but rather sisters. Your program is needed now more than ever before. We encourage everyone to reach out to Fisk to enquire about what you can do to help their program remain. We certainly encourage donations to the Wilberforce program as well. God bless the Fisk Team and may their program remain strong.”

She reprimanded the university by tagging them in a story of a screenshot with a message from her Instagram mutual. The text read, “As a current student, there are so many things I could and would say about this situation, but it truly is heartbreaking.” Muhammad wrote, “@fiskuniversity how much longer are you going to do things that hurt past/current students???”Another mutual sent her a message saying, “I just wanted to say that you are doing an amazing job fighting the good fight. Your parents have got to be proud of the woman you are. They did an amazing job raising you. I am a fan forever!”

Naimah replied, “I truly don’t expect myself alone to change ©fiskuniversity decision. But knowing that alumni, family, friends, and more are being supportive helps a bunch, no more being silent.” A mutual by the username, Nyla. Aquino shared, “Another opportunity for Black gymnasts destroyed.” To this, Muhammad tagged the university page and wrote, “©fiskuniversity other athletes from the schools we COMPETED at with our ‘challenging scheduling’ also think this decision was a bad one.”

Another mutual texted her saying, “My 9th-grade daughter had her heart set on going to Fisk for gymnastics. We came to the first meet here in DC (at GW). It was so special and at that point, she was SET on going to Fisk. We are so disappointed!!” She replied in the stories, tagging the university: “THIS is what it’s about.. not me and not even just the current team, but the dozens of girls who want to come to Fisk just to do gymnastics ©fiskuniversity”

She is still getting several messages and sharing the same on her Instagram stories. Meanwhile, before this, All Things Gymnastics Podcast posted on June 7 about Muhammad’s response: “Former Fisk gymnast Naimah Muhammad just shared on Instagram live that the gymnastics program will be discontinued after next season. Fisk, of course, was the first HBCU to start a gymnastics team.”

Under the supervision of head coach Corrinne Tarver, the Fisk Lady Gymdogs started their debut practice in August 2022. Their first competition was at the Super 16 meet in Las Vegas on January 6, 2023. Muhammad was present for the debut routine as well. But now the future seems bleak.

Now, with just one season left, Naimah Muhammad’s message is clear—Fisk’s gymnastics team meant more than medals, and its story shouldn’t end like this.