The Foundational Impact Series highlights those who support or have been supported by the USA Gymnastics Foundation in their mission to aid the American gymnastics community.
Balancing school, training, a social life and gymnastics competition is nothing new to three-time Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships medalist Tia Taylor since she started the sport at 4 years old. As she begins her senior year at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, support from the USA Gymnastics Foundation is helping to fuel her life goals as well as her training.
A 2025 Foundation scholarship recipient who also has received support in previous years, Taylor expressed gratitude not only for the financial impact the scholarships have had in her life, but for the support USA Gymnastics and the Foundation have provided for athletes’ education.
“Being able to receive the scholarship the past couple years is just a stress reliever,” said Taylor. “And it’s also knowing that the community I’ve been part of for so long cares about me and that I continue my education while representing them. It’s nice to know that my community cares.”
Knowing that she has the gymnastics community behind her keeps Taylor focused as she finishes up her degree in kinesiology, a major that she chose thanks largely to her athletic pursuits.
“I always tell people I would have chosen another major if I wasn’t in the sport,” said Taylor. “I definitely would have been a lawyer. I love to argue and I always have receipts, screenshots, audio – everything you need.”
However, being a gymnast piqued her interest in the STEM field, especially after seeing her mother earn a degree in finance engineering.
“My folks are such science/math nerds. I’m just following in their footsteps,” she joked. “The reason I chose [kinesiology] is because I want to know why injuries happen and what I can do fix it. I’m not going to pay money for somebody else to tell me what’s wrong when I could just tell myself.”
With such an intense field of study, Taylor has to make sure she stays on top of her responsibilities. Managing her personal calendar and surrounding herself with likeminded people are key to staying grounded.
“This sounds so cliche to say, but if I didn’t have my calendar, I don’t know what I’d do. I plan everything out – including my naps,” said Taylor. “However, I’ve got a social life too. I make sure to hang out with my girls and my sorority sisters in Alpha Sigma Kappa. People say we’re the closest class because we’ll all get together and go to dinner and hang out. It’s really chill and it’s a very diverse group of nerdy girls.”
As full as it is, her schedule would not be complete without gymnastics. Training in the evenings after school, Taylor is preparing for a trip to the 2025 Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships November 6-9 in Pamplona, Spain.
“I’ll be at the World Championships this year as an alternate and it’s my first time actually being an alternate for the team. But I say everything happens for a reason,“ she said. “Maybe this is my chance at a little break.”
And after that break, Taylor has a couple more plans for her career before she shifts her focus towards the job market.
“I would like my last year, my last Worlds, to be on the team and contribute something. My goals are to get a couple new passes, to make Worlds next year and to have a good showing. Then, I’ll focus on my adult life afterwards.” she stated. “Oh and also not get hurt, that’s always the one.”
With her gymnastics and college goals set, Taylor is thankful that the USA Gymnastics Foundation will be there to help her, and other athletes, on her journey to achieve them.
“Thank you for caring about your athletes,” said Taylor. “I’m thankful to know that there are people who know what we do, how hard we work to do it, and how hard we try to put our names out there.”
Visit Tia Taylor’s USA Gymnastics biography page for a deeper look into her athletic accomplishments. For more information on the USA Gymnastics Foundation and how you can help empower athletes like Tia, visit usagymfoundation.org.
