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Black History Month 2025

Meet the Bruins showcases Sydney Barros’ debut, Jordan Chiles’s return

Sophomore Sydney Barros performs a floor routine for the first time in Pauley Pavilion
on Saturday. (Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)

By Aaron Doyle

Dec. 15, 2024 7:52 p.m.

Sydney Barros sat on the sidelines last year.

The sophomore tore her ACL – for the second time – in 2023 while vying for an Olympic spot representing Puerto Rico at the Central American Games.

After waiting nearly a year to compete in a Bruin leotard, Saturday’s competition changed everything.

UCLA gymnastics hosted its annual Meet the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion, where the Bruins faithful got a sneak peek of the team before the season officially begins Jan. 4. Fans got a firsthand look at the new Bruins, including Barros, who made her debut in the blue and gold.

“That was definitely a long process, you know, a year and a half since tearing my ACL again,” Barros said. “To be able to put out a floor routine that I’m so proud of … and being able to show that for the first time is amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Barros was one of 15 gymnasts to perform a floor routine Saturday – nine more than what normally shows up during the regular season. Coach Janelle McDonald put at least eight routines on each event, flaunting the team’s newfound depth following the entrance of its star-studded freshman class – which boasts a combined six Level 10 national titles.

Another big returner to UCLA’s lineups?

Olympic champion Jordan Chiles.

(Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)
Junior Jordan Chiles performs her Olympic floor routine for the last time in Pauley Pavilion on Saturday. (Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)

While the junior only showed a watered-down version of her Olympic floor routine, the story that wove itself after she saluted the judges was starkly different from the last time she performed the same exercise.

“My role was supporting as much as I could,” Chiles said. “I’ve been in their (the freshman class) position once before, so being able to help them in the calmness of where their brain can take them, and just enjoy the moment and have fun.”

Fellow Paris Olympian Emma Malabuyo competed in what is likely to be her final Meet the Bruins, performing a brand new floor routine with an upgraded first tumbling pass. Last year, the Filipina Olympian stuck with a “D” rated double back first pass but swapped that out for a more difficult “E” rated double Arabian that awards her an extra tenth in bonus.

On beam, Malabuyo uncharacteristically fell on her back handspring to layout stepout series. She recovered by hitting the rest of her routine and taking a small hop on her gainer full dismount.

“I’m really trying to enjoy the process and enjoy this year, and really take in every single moment,” Malabuyo said. “I’m so grateful for this team and all of my teammates. They inspire me, they encourage me and they support me.”

(Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)
Freshman Macy McGowan salutes after finishing a routine in Pauley Pavilion on Saturday. (Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)

Macy McGowan made a mark in her Bruin debut, completing one of four 10.0 start value vaults for UCLA. The freshman was a standout on the event in high school, winning the Level 10 national title during her senior year.

Her addition to the Bruins’ vault lineup could send the team back to the national stage – a feat it missed out on last year after failing to advance past the regional semifinals.

“She’s got really strong, dynamic gymnastics, and it’s fun to watch,” McDonald said. “Macy is a great athlete, and she is going to have a lot of really special moments.”

UCLA is often touted for its tradition of excellence by recruiting elite gymnasts into their crop, and the newly-named Olympians and national champion freshmen extend that condition.

Despite the Bruins’ abundance of new faces, each member of the roster seems to share a similar goal.

“Everybody who stayed wants a natty (national championship),” Chiles said. “Why not come back and help them bring them home – not just one, but two, three, four – however many it is.”

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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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