“One of the all-time greats 👏” — that’s how LSU Gymnastics captioned their tribute. When even the SEC Network joins in to celebrate you, you know your legacy is something special. And for this gymnast, it’s been nothing short of legendary. During the LSU senior night, when they triumphed over Georgia with a program-record score of 198.575–197.175, the highest in school history, the gymnast had her words, citing, “I’m not okay! The best 5 years I could’ve asked for!! It’s truly been an honor to wear the purple and gold. Forever LSU.” But are there enough farewell words? This teammate of Olivia Dunne still has a lot she has to say.

If you are the slightest bit sensitive and a fan of LSU, and on top of all that, if Haleigh Bryant is your favorite gymnast, proceed with caution. Why? Because LSU, in their farewell video to the gymnast, brought the entire family together. “Haley Bryant, there are no words to express how proud I am of all your accomplishments at LSU. What an awesome career. We look forward to what is coming (0:13) next in your future,” said Terry Bryant, her dad.

Her mom, Trisha Bryant, didn’t stay back either. She said, “What a journey this gymnastics career has been. It has been a pleasure watching you grow and thrive these past 20 years.” Bryant began her gymnastics journey in 2004 at the age of three. Her interest was sparked after attending a “Parents’ Night Out” event at Georgia All-Star Gymnastics with a friend. Trisha talked of her daughters’ ups and downs and how proud she felt watching them from the front rows. And now it was time for the gymnast herself.

She went down the memory lane and said, “I think coming in as a freshman not knowing what to expect and kind of just staying back a little bit and just being quiet and kind of just doing my gymnastics and  not really focusing on anything other than that and then just the growth from freshman year to sophomore year really and all the years past was just tremendous I realized.” She debuted for LSU Gymnastics in 2021 as a freshman and ended up earning SEC Freshman of the Year. In Olivia‘s second year, the gymnast was named a WCGA Regular Season All-American on vault and uneven bars.

She continued, “Just a dream come true with fans hopefully and yeah, I just want to say thank you for everything. My parents, my coaches, Tiger Nation, my teammates. I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything without every single one of you guys. You were with me every step of the way.” Throughout Haleigh’s gymnastics career, her parents have been her steadfast supporters. They attended her competitions, provided emotional encouragement.

She said that there were some great moments and some downs, but what is going to be remembered is the the support that you guys gave every single day, She ended with, “I just don’t think I can put into words how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to compete at the best university for the past five years and  it’s just been nothing short of amazing, so thank you.” It makes you wonder how good her college performances would have been. 

Haleigh Bryant’s LSU Gymnastics Career

In 2021, Haleigh Bryant burst onto the NCAA gymnastics scene with a debut that signaled the arrival of a prodigious talent. Her freshman year was nothing short of spectacular, clinching the NCAA vault title and earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. With multiple perfect 10s and All-American accolades, she quickly became the cornerstone of LSU’s gymnastics program, setting the stage for a historic collegiate career. In 2023, Bryant’s performances reached new heights. She became the first LSU gymnast to record three perfect 10s in a single meet, achieving this feat on vault, bars, and beam.

Her consistency and excellence were evident as she competed in all-around events throughout the season, earning multiple SEC Gymnast of the Week honors and leading the team with numerous individual titles. The pinnacle of Bryant’s collegiate career came in 2024 when she led LSU to its first-ever NCAA team championship. Individually, she secured the NCAA All-Around title, further cementing her legacy. Her contributions were instrumental in the team’s success, and she was recognized with prestigious awards, including the Honda Award and AAI Award.

Opting to return for a fifth year, Bryant’s final season in 2025 saw her reclaim the SEC All-Around title, leading LSU to another conference championship. Although the team narrowly missed repeating as national champions, Bryant’s impact was indelible. She concluded her collegiate career as a three-time NCAA champion and a five-time SEC champion, leaving an unparalleled legacy at LSU.