LSU Gymnast Kailin Chio Earns SEC Gymnast of the Week After Perfect 10 Performance

The sophomore standout continues to impress with her consistent excellence on the mat.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

LSU sophomore gymnast Kailin Chio was named SEC Gymnast of the Week after her record-setting performance in the Tigers' home opener against Kentucky. Chio posted a perfect 10.00 score on balance beam, the first perfect 10 in the nation this season, and finished with the highest all-around score of 39.775, the second-highest in the country so far. Chio's teammates and coaches praised her unwavering focus and routine excellence, with head coach Jay Clark noting that her perfect beam routine was "nothing new" for the talented gymnast.

Why it matters

Chio's performance highlights LSU's continued dominance in gymnastics and the emergence of a new star in the SEC. As a sophomore, she is quickly establishing herself as one of the top all-around gymnasts in the country, adding to LSU's reputation for developing elite talent. Chio's perfect 10 also comes at a key time, as the Tigers look to build momentum towards a potential national championship run.

The details

In LSU's 198.050-196.925 win over Kentucky, Chio led the way with a season-high all-around score of 39.775, which is now the second-highest in the country. She posted scores of 9.950 on vault, 9.900 on bars, a perfect 10.00 on beam, and 9.925 on floor. Chio's perfect 10 on beam was the first such score by any gymnast in the nation this season, and the second of her career.

  • On January 27, 2026, Kailin Chio was named SEC Gymnast of the Week.
  • On January 24, 2026, Chio led LSU to a record-setting 198.050-196.925 win over Kentucky.

The players

Kailin Chio

A sophomore gymnast at LSU who was named SEC Gymnast of the Week after posting a perfect 10.00 score on balance beam, the first such score in the nation this season.

Jay Clark

The head coach of the LSU gymnastics team, who praised Chio's consistent excellence and noted that her perfect beam routine was "nothing new" for the talented gymnast.

Ashley Cowan

A current or former teammate of Chio's who celebrated the gymnast's SEC Gymnast of the Week honor, describing it as "just a regular day in the office."

Olivia Dunne

A current or former teammate of Chio's who responded to the news of her SEC honor with the single word "HER," a familiar shorthand that carried plenty of weight.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The beam lineup has been so rock solid from the beginning. Lexi (Zeiss) going in and then Konnor (McClain) going in, they just rocked beam. I didn't even feel nervous going up. They set me up so well and I just wanted to do my best routine for them and get the score we needed for this team, whether it was a 10 or not.”

— Kailin Chio

“I think too she does that every day in practice so it's not shocking for us to see. It's exciting to see the 10 but it's nothing new for us.”

— Jay Clark, Head Coach

What’s next

LSU will look to carry the momentum from Chio's record-setting performance on the road this week when the Tigers travel to Columbia to face Missouri in an SEC matchup.

The takeaway

Kailin Chio's perfect 10 on balance beam and her consistent excellence across all events have cemented her status as one of the top gymnasts in the SEC and the country. As a sophomore, she is poised to lead LSU's quest for a national championship, further solidifying the program's reputation for developing elite talent.