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Black History Month 2025

World silver medalist Ana Padurariu leaves UCLA gymnastics for Utah

Ana Padurariu poses on the beam in Pauley Pavilion.

By Aaron Doyle

Sept. 24, 2024 10:30 a.m.

Former UCLA gymnastics standout Ana Padurariu has transferred to Utah, the rising junior announced Tuesday via Instagram.

The 2018 World Championships silver medalist chose to continue her NCAA career with the Bruins’ former Pac-12 rival. Padurariu deferred from UCLA during the 2024 season in an effort to represent Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics but fell short after sustaining a foot injury during her preparations.

Padurariu will join the Red Rocks after they defeated the Bruins at the final rendition of the Pac-12 championships in 2024, denying the Bruins a conference title for the fourth consecutive time. Utah has been UCLA’s rival for years, meeting 22 times since 2000 and winning 15 of those matchups.

Speculation around Padurariu’s transfer arose when she removed “@uclagymnastics” from her Instagram account in August, prompting an influx of rumors. Eyebrows were raised once again when Padurariu was not pictured with UCLA on its annual first day of practice. Padurariu confirmed the rumors on Tuesday, sporting the Utah Red leotard in an Instagram post.

At UCLA, Padurariu was a staple in the team’s bars and beam lineup. The Whitby, Ontario, local boasts career-highs of 9.950 on both events – leaving a void for coach Janelle McDonald to fill ahead of UCLA’s 2025 season.

Prior to Padurariu’s arrival in Westwood, she spent five years with the Canadian national team and competed at the World Championships in 2018 and 2019, qualifying for the beam final at both competitions. In 2018, she bested Simone Biles – often regarded as the greatest female gymnast of all time – to win the silver medal behind China’s Liu Tingting. 

Her silver medal is the highest placement for a Canadian in World Championships history and was the first medal-winning performance on beam from a Canadian at a World Championships since 2006 when UCLA alumna Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs took bronze.

Her elite caliber gymnastics made her a sought-after recruit, earning a four-star rating from College Gym News prior to her arrival at UCLA.

Three Bruins transferred out of Westwood after the end of the 2024 season – first Alex Irvine, then Selena Harris and now Padurariu. Just when UCLA had seemingly entered a rebuilding period, the Bruins were swept with change.

Padurariu’s move to Utah also comes after her engagement to UCLA men’s soccer alumnus Tommy Silva, who currently plays for the MLS’s Real Salt Lake.

While the Bruins are headed to the Big Ten, Padurariu and the Red Rocks head to the Big 12.

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Aaron Doyle | Assistant Sports editor
Doyle is a 2024-2025 assistant Sports editor. He is a fourth-year psychobiology student from Las Vegas.
Doyle is a 2024-2025 assistant Sports editor. He is a fourth-year psychobiology student from Las Vegas.
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