Alabama star Azaraya Ra-Akbar dominated the NCAA 2026 season with her perfect 10s. However, it seems she might not carry the momentum to the American Classics due to eligibility issues.

Gymnastics Now recently shared an initial list of participants who have registered for the upcoming American Classics. While some top athletes are participating this year, Alabama's Azaraya Ra-Akbar was a notable omission.

After qualifying at the Fuzion meet this May, fans were surprised by her absence from the registration list.

According to Katherine Keirns on X, Azaraya had switched her sports nationality via FIG from the USA to Canada in November 2023. This stops her from participating in international meets until November 2026.

Furthermore, she must serve the same term before requesting another change in nationality.

Although the American Classic is a domestic meet, Azaraya's participation remains uncertain as per the new rules passed in 2024 by USA Gymnastics. Under the new policy, an athlete holding a FIG license with another federation cannot compete in the domestic meet like the Classic.

For Azaraya to step on the floor, she would require a rare exception, which is entirely up to USAG discretion. Looking ahead to the competition scheduled for June 27 in Minnesota, she might have to go to FIG to compete.

With the American Classic serving as an important gateway to the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, the stakes are high for Azaraya if she misses this opportunity.

While the U.S. Classics is another safety net, with the ongoing eligibility crisis, her future in competition remains uncertain for now.

Azaraya Ra-Akbar’s Strong Start to Collegiate Career

The Alabama's freshman standout 2026 NCAA season suggests she is a top contender for the upcoming championships.

In her first season, she scored a perfect 10 on the uneven bar, a big milestone in her career. She also finished second in the country on uneven bars.

Azaraya claimed the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year award, becoming the first freshman since 1999 to achieve this prestigious honor. She now stands as one of only four gymnasts to earn this accolade in the program’s history.

Head coach Ashley Johnston lauded her achievements.

“It's so fun to be able to celebrate all that she's done, all that she's put into her accomplishments this season,” she stated.

What makes Azaraya stand out is her technical precision. She captured a 9.975 on uneven bars at Clemson in January, before reaching a perfect 10 at Illinois.

The gymnast herself noted her achievement while speaking to the university newspaper.

“The team genuinely had genuine joy for me, I know it was something I'll never forget,” she stated.

Besides building consistency on uneven bars, she also delivered standout performances on vault and floor exercise, scoring 9.975 twice on vault and 9.95 on floor thrice this season.

With three more years left in her collegiate career, Azaraya's track record highlights her potential to become a strong competitor.

Read more at Gymnastics Digest.

Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Sijo Paul