In the iconic venue of Fort Worth on April 19, the Oklahoma Sooners women’s gymnastics team did it again, clinching their seventh NCAA national championship since 2014. And standing at the center of it all was senior Jordan Bowers, whose final collegiate meet unfolded like the perfect closing chapter to a storybook career. And how did she celebrate such a momentous night? With the kind of joy that comes from years of grit, sacrifice, and love for her team.

“I am so freaking proud of this team and I’m so proud to be a Sooner,” Jordan beamed, her voice catching with emotion as confetti rained down and cheers echoed through the arena. But Jordan’s pride wasn’t just about hoisting a trophy — it was deeply personal. Her journey has been carved by every flawless dismount, every stuck landing, and every moment she chose courage over comfort. This championship wasn’t just a win for Oklahoma — it was a win for her heart, her health, and her unshakable will. And the trophy for it came to her from someone closer to her heart. 

While Jordan Bowers shone under the arena lights, her biggest fan was beaming from the stands and lighting up Instagram. Raydel Gamboa, Jordan’s fiancé and a standout in men’s collegiate gymnastics himself, didn’t hold back his excitement. “Letssss GOOOOOO!!!!!!!” he posted moments after the final score sealed the Sooners’ fate as champions. Meanwhile, the celebration didn’t stop there. In a follow-up story, Raydel proudly declared: “2x National Champ!!! 🏆🏆” A loving flex, no doubt — a tribute to her back-to-back NCAA titles in 2022 and 2023, and now this unforgettable third in 2025. And coming from Raydel, the words meant even more. As a former Men’s Developmental Program National Champion, a collegiate All-American, and a top all-around finisher, he knows firsthand the grind, the pressure, the hours behind closed gym doors.

And on the biggest night of her collegiate career, Jordan delivered, not just for herself — but for every person who had ever believed in her. She put up a stunning 39.4875 in the all-around, leading off with a near-perfect 9.9375 on beam, and later added a 9.8875 on bars — her final, elegant salute to NCAA gymnastics. Yet what made Bowers’ performance even more iconic was what had happened just two nights earlier. Jordan had already written her name in the history books as the 2024 NCAA All-Around Champion, outscoring Olympic medalist Jade Carey and rising star Joscelyn Roberson with a jaw-dropping 39.7125. That moment alone could have been her curtain call — a fairy-tale ending worthy of any champion. But who can forget what happened to her 6 years ago? 

Jordan Bowers signifies the rise from ashes 

Three national championships. One NCAA all-around crown. A legacy built on excellence, grace, and unshakable grit. And by her side through it all, a fellow gymnast — her fiancé, Raydel Gamboa — who didn’t just cheer from the sidelines but understood the journey in its rawest form. He spoke her language — the language of passion, perseverance, and quiet resilience. What more could Jordan Bowers have asked for? Nothing, maybe. Because six years ago, she wasn’t dreaming of championship parades or MVP lists. She was just trying to hold on.

Back on November 2, 2019, Jordan made a decision no teenager should ever have to face — a sudden, forced exit from elite gymnastics. Her body, worn down by relentless back injuries, was no longer cooperating with the dreams she held so tightly. In a deeply emotional post, she wrote: “Taking into consideration my previous back injuries, it was in my best interest to come to this decision and focus on my recovery for my back and be able to continue my gymnastics career in the least amount of pain that I can be in. This decision will allow me to pursue my ultimate goal of competing for The University of Oklahoma.”

It wasn’t a retirement as much as a redirection. But that didn’t make it any easier. The pain wasn’t just physical — it was emotional. Her routines weren’t just at risk. Her identity, her confidence, her future — it all felt fragile. But even then, she chose grace. She chose patience. She chose to believe that the story wasn’t over, just being rewritten.

And now, six years later, look at how she signed off. In the Sooners’ legacy, she now ranks second only to Faith Torrez in the program’s MVP leaderboard, with an astounding career total of 673.675 — a number that speaks to her consistency, her courage, and her fire across four unforgettable seasons. Well, tonight Jordan Bowers didn’t just end her collegiate career on a high. She turned what was once heartbreak into history.