“I do the sport because of him, because of his love for gymnastics.” Trying to keep up with her brothers, this gymnast forced herself into riding bikes. However, after being guided thoroughly by her father, the gymnastics star is now has 4x All-Big 12 selection. Not only that, the gymnast is also a proud 7x WCGA All-American. Standing on the cusp of NCAA glory, this Sooners’ star is eagerly looking forward to honoring her father’s wishes. But why is this so high up this gymnast’s agenda anyway?

This is the story of Audrey Davis and her father, Peter Davis. Initially, Peter was not at all familiar with how gymnastics worked. Despite his wife, Katherine, being involved with the sport, Peter was quite ignorant. However, things took a drastic turn once his daughter decided to turn her passion for the mat into her profession. Learning the sport in and out, Audrey’s father was there to guide her throughout her career. That was until 2018, when an unexpected turn of events plunged the 7x NCAA All American’s life into darkness. 

Unable to survive the battle with cancer, Peter succumbed to the deadly disease, leaving his daughter heartbroken. However, despite his physical absence, Audrey believes that her father continues to be present for her. Reflecting on her bond with her dad, Audrey said, “He knew the sport inside and out. As a parent, I think that’s crazy. He knew all the skills. He knew everything that you were doing and he wanted to learn.” Audrey further mentioned how Peter put in efforts to learn what his daughter was doing. And such willing enthusiasm made her all the more determined to take the sport more dedicatedly. 

Now then, it was not only her father who was supportive. Katherine, too, did everything she could to make Audrey and her brothers excel in the fields they chose to follow. Recalling Peter’s impeccable dedication towards supporting Audrey, the Sooners’ star stated, “He was so passionate about us and about me and my brothers’ careers in what we were doing.” Audrey further credited her father for building her character, which turned her into what she is at present. 

“Learn from other people that you don’t know what people are going through, you don’t know what they’ve been through to make them be where they are today,” Audrey concluded. Thus, with the Sooners ranked second, Audrey and her team will go up against Florida, Missouri, and Alabama in the first season. As the crowd in Dickies Arena in Forth Worth, Texas watches with bated breath, Audrey will surely look to honor her father’s wishes with all her heart and soul. But of course, before that, Audrey will be performing her mandatory pre-game ritual. And guess what? This too, involves her dad! 

How Audrey Davis competes with her father’s memory in her heart in every routine

Every time Audrey Davis salutes before an event, she carries a piece of her heart with her. A quiet reminder of the man who continues to inspire every move she makes. “I do it for my dad, always,” she shared after Oklahoma’s NCAA triumph back in 2023, clutching the championship cup. “Oh I know he would have loved this moment.”

Audrey’s pre-meet ritual isn’t about superstition or routine. Rather it’s about connection. She brings a specific photo of her and her father to every competition, placing it in her locker. Before stepping onto the floor, she takes a moment to speak to him. “It calms me down and grounds me before the day ahead,” she revealed in an interview. And in a subtle, powerful gesture, Davis also rubs her stomach before each event—a motion many may miss, but one that carries deep meaning. In that fleeting moment, she reminds herself of one thing. That she’s doing it for him.

While her late father is the foundation of her strength, her brother Matthew fuels her competitive fire. As a gymnast at West Point, he’s been by her side since the beginning, pushing her with his quiet perseverance. But at the center of Audrey’s journey is love, etched in memory, felt in every routine, and lived for someone who still guides her every step.