Over the past few years, the necessity of representation has finally come into the limelight. The gymnastics sports have also understood the need of promoting athletes of diverse backgrounds and cultures towards the sports. Athletes such as Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas, two of the last three Olympic all-around champions, have also contributed by serving as role models for young athletes of color aspiring to reach the pinnacle of gymnastics.

Following this, a new budding athlete has also pursued her gymnastics dream. The 19-year-old teenager from Minneapolis has managed to be recruited into one of the top colleges known for its rich history. Amid this recruitment, Diamond Cook is set to create history in the sport.

Diamond Cook ready to create history in gymnastics

Diamond Cook has officially joined the college gymnastics team. The teenager, who has faced many hardships to get into the limelight, has now become a member of the gymnastics team at Talladega College, a college with a rich history of representing people of color. Following this surprising recruitment, the 19-year-old is the second gymnast in history to represent any HBCU.

The athlete?s staunch skills were recognized by the Talladega College coach Sims-Fletcher in July at the ‘Brown Girls do Gymnastics camp.’ In an interview with CBS News, the 19-year-old who was trying a new trick revealed, “I was doing it on a low beam, and she said (Sims-Fletcher) they were really good.” Further, Fletcher made Cook an offer that changed the course of her life, as the athlete revealed: “She asked me if I was interested in college gymnastics. I was like, ?Yes.? And when the gymnastics coach mentioned the name of the college, Diamond couldn’t contain her excitement and stated, “I would do anything to be on that team.”

According to Sims-Fletcher, she was impressed by Cook’s effort to try new things despite being an underdog in the sport. Further, while talking about the necessity of not having brown girls represented in gymnastics, the coach told the media that the college is trying to build a culture within the sports. The aim is to provide much more opportunities for young brown girls who want to pursue college gymnastics. Besides Fletcher, the athlete?s mother, who always believed in her daughter’s perseverance and dreams, has also shown her excitement for her daughter?s new journey.

Diamond Cook?s mother happy for the gymnast

Amid this staunch achievement, the athlete?s mother, who pushed her towards joining the camp, described the 19-year-old as ” A Diamond in the rough”. However, apart from the excitement, this opportunity also meant that Cook would leave her family and former teammates behind. Nonetheless, the athlete and her family know the importance of the gymnast taking these steps.

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With so much dedication and perseverance toward the sport, Diamond Cook will most definitely reach for the stars someday. Moreover, the 19-year-old Diamond also inspires many young girls to believe in themselves and their dreams.

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