LSU freshman phenom Kailin Chio has been named the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, announced by the Southeastern Conference during its annual gymnastics awards for the season.
Additionally, Chio’s historic freshman campaign has resulted in All-SEC Team honors and being recognized on the All-Freshman Team.
Cementing her name into LSU Gymnastics’ history books, Chio is only the fourth gymnast in program history to receive the SEC Freshman of the Year award and the 20th gymnast to earn a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team since becoming established in 2009.
Through becoming acclimated and understanding the unique, versatile role that she possesses in this star-studded roster, the all-around LSU gymnast has claimed a mystifying nine SEC Freshman of the Week awards (with a streak of seven FOTW).
Sitting as the new record holder for the most SEC Freshman of the Week Awards, she overtook Florida Gators Kayla DiCello, who established the record with eight honors in 2023.
During the last match of the regular season against then-ranked No. 14 Auburn Tigers, Chio captured her first collegiate score of a perfect 10.0 during a vault routine where she successfully landed a Yurchenko one-and-a-half.
This is only the fourth perfect score in the country by any gymnast so far this season.
Furthermore, continuing to secure highly-regarded accolades to her already-historic freshman resume, Chio statistically-speaking is the second best vaulter in the nation due to boasting a National Qualifying Score of 9.955 (ranking second in the nation).
Leading the purple and gold to its sixth SEC Championship title in program history and finishing with a record-breaking score of 198.200, Chio turned heads throughout her postseason debut.
From notching scores of 9.950 during her uneven bars and floor routine, Chio managed to also secure impressive scores of 9.900 at vault and 9.850 on the balance beam.
During the team’s celebration after becoming back-to-back SEC Champions, Chio expressed just how memorable her freshman year has been and what she’s most proud of accomplishing.
“It was so exciting just coming in, being a freshman here at LSU… living out my dreams and doing this with this team and kind of starting our next chapter,” Chio said. “I think I’m just proud of not only my own growth this season, but the whole team… we’ve really clicked as a whole.”
Putting an exclamation point on the most historic freshman season in LSU history, Chio has competed in the all-around in every meet for the Tigers and possesses the highest all-around score by a freshman in LSU history and in the country currently.
LSU Gymnastics will enter the NCAA postseason as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history, beginning their journey to defend last season’s national championship.
The No.1-seed LSU Gymnastics team will begin their journey to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships at the Penn State Regional beginning on Thursday, April 3, at 6:00 p.m. CST.
The Tigers will face No.8-seed Michigan State Spartans, No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats, and No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks in the Penn State Regional.
LSU Gymnastics will open regional competition in the second session of the NCAA Second Round against No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks, Michigan Wolverines, and the winner of the first round play-in round between the Maryland Terrapins and West Virginia Mountaineers.
Both semi finals on Thursday, April 17, will air on ESPN2 and the National Championship on Saturday, April 19, will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. CST on ABC.
All regional competition can be viewed on ESPN+.