Some people learn what they love to do late in life. Others take time to develop their skills.

But for Zoey Molomo, gymnastics was a part of her from the beginning.

“I was a very jumpy kid, very energetic all the time,” said Molomo, an incoming freshman for UCLA gymnastics. “I’d be jumping off my couch in the living room, and my parents were like, ‘This is not a safe environment that she should be flipping in.’ They looked for a gym, ballet, dance studios, and the gymnastics gym ended up being closer to my house, so my parents were like, ‘We’re going to do that first.’”

And the rest was history.

Having officially begun gymnastics at age 3, Molomo quickly honed her skills. Eleven years later, she made her debut representing the United States.

In 2022, her first year competing internationally, she helped Team USA earn first place in the Pan American Championships’ Junior Division and individually placed second on vault and fourth in the all-around at the City of Jesolo Trophy.

“It is one of the greatest honors probably I’ll ever have in my life,” Molomo said. “Putting on your Team USA jacket and warmups and going out there, it’s just so special when we all finish, and we won a medal, and you’re hearing the national anthem. It becomes way more important, and you realize that you’re coming together to do something for something way bigger than yourself, and it’s truly the greatest honor.”

The Frisco, Texas, local has trained with Metroplex Gymnastics, with recent highlights including taking gold on vault and bronze on beam at the 2025 Winter Cup and all-around bronze at the 2026 U.S. Classic.

And her track record caught the attention of a former Bruin.

Jordan Chiles founded SHERO Athlete Collective in summer 2025 to help mentor younger gymnasts. Molomo, alongside Florida commit Simone Rose, was one of the first athletes to work directly with Chiles.

“Zoey, I met at a camp,” Chiles said in a Rebel Girls YouTube video discussing SHERO Athlete Collective. “How tall (she is) reminded me so much of Shilese (Jones) when she was younger. I was like, ‘Oh, she’s going to be a great bar worker. This girl is going to do amazing things.’”

Now Chiles’ mentee is following in her footsteps to Westwood.

Molomo’s signing with the Bruins was announced officially Nov. 12, alongside fellow commits Cami Tassone, Brooke Katz and Michelle Pineda. The four will make their debut in the blue and gold during the annual Meet the Bruins meet in December.

“Zoey has an eye-catching presence on the competition floor, and this, with her extensive experience competing on the international scene, will make her one to watch in the NCAA,” said coach Janelle McDonald in UCLA Athletics’ official commitment announcement. “Zoey has a fun and vibrant personality that makes her a natural leader in the way she shows up in spaces and cares about the people around her. I am so excited for the positive impact she will make in our program on and off the competition floor for years to come.”

But Molomo’s journey to the collegiate scene hasn’t been straightforward.

While practicing vault in April 2025 at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, Molomo tore her left ACL. Following an extensive recovery process, she made a strong comeback in the American and U.S. Classics, taking bronze in the all-around at both meets.

Molomo said the recovery process helped widen her view on gymnastics.

“I had to learn it was not my fault,” Molomo said. “It was an accident, and as much as you hate that, that’s what happened to you – it was an accident. I grew so much as a person. I learned so much about myself. I got to see a different lens on gymnastics.”

Molomo also credited her family and friends for helping her through the recovery and being a support system along the way.

And now that support is making its way to Westwood for Molomo’s collegiate debut.