Ana Padurariu competes in first elite meet in three years

After UCLA gymnastics finished the season short of an NCAA title, the Bruins returned to Westwood to relax and gear up for the 2024 season.

But one member of the team had her sights set on another goal.

Sophomore Ana Padurariu traveled to Canada to demo at the Canadian National Championships for her first elite competition in over three years. Previously, Padurariu was a Canadian National Team member from 2015-2020 and a beam silver medalist at the 2018 World Championships.

Coach Janelle McDonald said Padurariu has been working toward returning to elite competition over the course of the 2022-2023 season.

“Ana has talked since early on since I got here about … wanting to get her gymnastics and her body in a place where she could potentially start to think about the dream of competing for her national team in Canada again,” McDonald said. “It was really cool to finish up season and see her to be in a place where she could really work for those goals again.”

Since Padurariu is not currently a member of Canada’s High Performance team, she was limited to exhibitioning at the meet. McDonald, who traveled with Padurariu as her coach, said she trained bars throughout the week and hit her exhibition beam routine in competition.

“She absolutely nailed her beam routine,” McDonald said. “She has such a beautiful performance quality on beam that we obviously see in the NCAA, but to really see her be able to perform so confidently at the national stage in Canada was a really special opportunity.”

With the world championships approaching in four months and the 2024 Olympics just over a year away, Padurariu has multiple opportunities to compete elite again if she chooses.

“The conversation we started while we were up there in Vancouver with their leadership is, ‘What does it look like for her to become part of the High Performance team there again?’” McDonald said. “Starting those conversations and then seeing what her goals are and where her heart leads is the next step.”

Emma Malabuyo set to compete at Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Padurariu isn’t the only one who’s considering a return to elite.

Sophomore Emma Malabuyo finished her 2023 season with a total of 16 9.900-plus scores on beam and floor. But as she began to train for her junior season, she received a call from a member of the Filipino National Team coaching staff, asking if she would consider returning to elite to compete for the Philippines.

Malabuyo, who was an alternate for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics and a five-time U.S. National Team member, committed to compete for the Philippines at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships from June 10-18 in Singapore.

“She’s in a place where she loves gymnastics,” McDonald said. “Emma’s kind of on that next first step of wanting to see what this process feels like, see if it’s something that she really wants to commit wholeheartedly to.”

Fellow UCLA sophomore Jordan Chiles has announced that she plans to take a year off as she trains for the 2024 Olympics. Although Malabuyo and Padurariu are looking to return to elite as well, they will still contribute as Bruins next season, according to McDonald.

McDonald added that the desire for Padurariu and Malabuyo to strive for new heights in gymnastics is inspiring.

“It really is a testament to who they are as people that they just have that full growth mindset of never wanting to ask, ‘What if?'” McDonald said. “They’re always wanting to push themselves to be the best version of themselves.”

Emma Andres announces return to UCLA for the fifth year

While some Bruins look to extend their careers outside of UCLA, others are prolonging their stay in Westwood.

Senior Emma Andres announced last week that she would use her final year of eligibility to take a fifth year as a Bruin. She joins fellow senior Chloe Lashbrooke, who announced April 21 that she would also remain in Westwood for a fifth season.

“I’m so grateful to be able to spend another year being a part of this program!” Andres said in a statement on Instagram. “I can’t wait to soak in every moment with this amazing group of athletes, coaches, support staff, and community.”

McDonald said she looks forward to seeing what Andres contributes in her final year.

“Emma has been talking about how this really was her best year as far as just feeling like she was doing some of the best gymnastics she’s done in her college career,” McDonald said. “We were just thrilled to have that conversation with her and bring back her leadership next year.”