By Logan Hanson
FightingIllini.com

Video

In the sport of women's gymnastics, there is a common stereotype that the participants are small in stature. This is because of the difficult routines that the sport requires in certain events such as the vault and the bars. This theory holds up on the Olympic level as shown by the 2016 Team USA roster of Simone Biles, Gabrielle Douglas, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, and Laurie Hernandez that averaged a height of just over five feet tall.

But at the University of Illinois, there is a new Illini gymnast who is looking to challenge those beliefs. Shaylah Scott, a freshman from Plano, Texas, is the tallest member of the Illini team standing at five feet and nine inches tall. Although the all-around participant has a unique height for the sport, Scott comes to University of Illinois with an impressively extensive resume that includes being a member of the 2016 Junior Olympic National Team, where she won the All-Around and Vault titles at the 2016 Junior Olympic Nationals and being the 2018 Level 10 Texas State Vault and Beam champion. Although some are surprised by Scott being a gymnast, she does not see her height as a disadvantage and instead uses it to help her in competition.

"I think it is definitely sometimes an advantage because it is something that judges do not always see," said Scott. "I would not say it is a disadvantage because it does not really effect my gymnastics."

Scott's height came when she turned 13, but it never affected the way she participated on floor. Instead, one of the challenges was changing people's perceptions about the sport she participated in. During recruiting, Scott heard many questions surrounding her height.

"A lot of the recruiters would be like 'Do you play basketball or volleyball?' and I would have to be like, no I am a gymnast," said Scott, "Some of them would be surprised that I could do gymnastics, but eventually people did not really care anymore."

For University of Illinois Women's Gymnastics Head Coach Nadalie Walsh, Scott gives the team something that the shorter members cannot bring to the team.

"I think when you have a very long or tall gymnast, you have an opportunity to have an amount of grace, elegance, and poise that somebody who is short and muscular cannot replicate," said Walsh, "For Shaylah (Scott), she is strong enough, she can keep her legs very straight and has good poise. I just think it makes her look very stunning."

The team implements elements into Scott's choreography for beam and floor to take advantage of the unique element she brings. These moves help to show off Scott's grace and elegance for competition.

"In her choreography on beam and floor, I feel like I have definitely taken that as an opportunity to capitalize on her length and make everything a little more graceful," said Walsh.

Although Scott stands out in the sport, she does not believe that people underestimate her. People may be surprised, but she is quick to prove that she belongs.

"I do not think anybody underestimates me," said Scott, "I just think a lot of people are surprised that I can actually do gymnastics and do it well. I think they are just shocked."

With the Illini starting their season on the road in Mount Pleasant, Mich. against Arizona, Central Michigan, and Bridgeport on Sunday Night, Scott is enthusiastic to start the next chapter of her gymnastics career.

"I am excited especially coming from [Junior Olympic] to doing college gymnastics, I am curious to know what it is like and how it is going to be," said Scott.

When you watch the Illini women's gymnastics team, it may come as a surprise to see the 5'9" Scott take the floor or on the beam, but it should not. Because when it comes to gymnastics, Scott stands heads and shoulders above the competition.

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