The price of success can be steep—and for Fisk University’s gymnastics program, it may have become unsustainable. Launched just three years ago, Fisk Gymnastics made headlines as the first HBCU program of its kind. It didn’t take long to produce a bona fide star, capture pop culture buzz, and add fresh glory to the school’s trophy case. But behind the dazzling routines and historic firsts, university administrators were juggling financial challenges and questioning where the program truly fit in an athletics department where it stood as a unique outlier. The glow of success was too bright for many to notice the growing cracks beneath. Until, suddenly, the curtain dropped.
On June 6, Fisk University announced that the 2026 season will be the last for its pioneering gymnastics team. The university’s official release cited “a comprehensive review” of the program and its misalignment with the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), which does not sanction gymnastics. This, they explained, created ongoing scheduling difficulties and recruitment obstacles. Well, the announcement sent shockwaves across the collegiate sports world and ignited a flurry of support. For the young athletes—many of whom chose Fisk to be part of something bigger than themselves—the news felt like an eviction notice from a dream. The calls for support quickly escalated. Then came a flicker of hope.
On June 17, Forbes Sports journalist Carolina Price shared highlights from a pivotal stakeholders’ meeting. Among those speaking up was Fisk Board of Trustees member and proud alumnus Samuel Williams (’68). His message was clear and cautiously optimistic. “If we come up and we raise some money,” Williams said, “I don’t think that they’re going to let (Fisk Gymnastics) go.” He backed that confidence with institutional insight: “As a member of the Board of Trustees at Fisk, I don’t think we want anything good to leave our institution…the mere fact that the President indicated that she would continue to program for at least a year is a positive sign..” With the clock ticking and emotions running high, what happens next will depend on what the Fisk community—and the broader gymnastics world—is willing to do.
“If we come up and we raise some money, I don’t think that they’re going to let (Fisk Gymnastics) go.” – Samuel Williams, Board of Trustees member and Fisk alum (’68). https://t.co/4scZm8ZpUR
— Caroline Price (@carolineoprice) June 18, 2025
The report is developing…
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