Some find out what they love to do a little later in life. Others are not ready to do it immediately and take their time. But not Zoey Molomo. 

"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 searched for a gym, ballet, dance studios, and the gymnastics gym was closer to my house, so they were like, 'We'll start there first.'" And she has not looked back. After first trying her hand at the sport at age 3, Molomo worked her way to the senior international level and her first USA debut 11 years later. 

Her first year of international competition in 2022 saw the USA team place first in the Pan Am Championships' Junior Division while she finished 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, native trains with Metroplex Gymnastics and has seen success of late on the international stage, taking home gold on vault and bronze on beam at the 2025 Winter Cup and all-around bronze at the 2026 U.S. Classic. And her resume recently earned the attention of a former Bruin. 

Jordan Chiles started SHERO Athlete Collective this past summer to mentor younger gymnasts. 

Molomo and fellow Florida commit Simone Rose were among the first group to partner with Chiles in the program. "Zoey, I met at a camp," said Chiles in a Rebel Girls YouTube video about 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 with her own future attached to Westwood, Molomo is ready to take her talents to the collegiate level. Molomo's commitment was announced Nov. 12 alongside Cami Tassone, Brooke Katz and Michelle Pineda. All will showcase their skills in Westwood for the first time during the annual Meet the Bruins competition 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 commit 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." 

And the long road to the college scene is definitely not over. 

Zoey had a difficult 2025 season. She tore her left ACL while competing vault in April at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy. After a long rehab process, she had a very successful return on the American and U.S. Classics with bronze in the all-around at both meets. 

"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 noted her family and friends were critical to helping her get through the recovery phase. And now she has their support as she ventures to Westwood for her first college appearance.

Written by

Tanu