This Gymnastics Routine Set Entirely to Beyoncé's Hits Is Going Viral

Elena Nicolaou
·3 min read
Photo credit: Timothy Nwachukwu - Getty Images
Photo credit: Timothy Nwachukwu - Getty Images

From Oprah Magazine

  • Nia Dennis, a gymnast at UCLA, performed a routine set entirely to the music of Beyoncé at a meet last weekend.

  • The 21-year-old's routine earned her a near-perfect 9.975 score.

  • See why this routine is going majorly viral, with Gabrielle Union chiming in.

I don't know much about gymnastics, but I do know a good thing when I see it, and that includes Nia Dennis's awe-inspiring floor routine set entirely to the music of Beyoncé.

Dennis, who is a junior at UCLA, paid tribute to Queen Bey with a series of flawlessly executed flips and landings timed to instrumental versions of "Lose My Breath" (by Destiny's Child), "Crazy in Love," and more at a meet last weekend.

According to ESPN, the 21-year-old earned a near-perfect 9.975/10 score with her astounding routine. It's enough to make Beyoncé nod approvingly—and make the rest of our jaws drop.

Within the world of gymnastics, Dennis is a rising star. According to her UCLA athlete bio, Dennis was the 2019 First-Team All-American on bars, and the 2018 NCAA team champion. This video, however, may have catapulted her to the level of household name, like Olympians Simone Biles or Shawn Johnson.

Dennis finished her routine by making a subtle crown with her fingers—clearly, she knows she's a queen. Adding to the triumph is the fact that the event took place on her 21st birthday.

The energy in the stadium during Dennis's routine is palpable, even through the internet. It's as if the cheering crowd and her supportive teammates, who began singing along to one of the songs, knew they were witnessing a viral moment-in-the-making.

And viral, it became. Unsurprisingly, the internet is going wild over Dennis's routine.

Even Gabrielle Union—who knows a little something about athletic glory, being married to NBA legend Dwyane Wade—chimed in.

Inevitably, the routine has been turned into a meme.

The only possible complaint? People take issue with the fact that Dennis didn't get a perfect score.

Last year, fellow UCLA Bruin Katelyn Ohashi went viral with her floor routines. Dennis is appreciative of the attention.

This isn't the last we're seeing of Dennis. Previously, Dennis named going to the Olympics as one of her goals. When she gets there, we'll remember her name.

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