Romanian Olympic Medalist Ana Barbosu Joins Stanford Gymnastics

Barbosu, the first non-American Olympic medalist to compete in NCAA gymnastics, will debut with Stanford in 2026, reigniting her rivalry with UCLA’s Jordan Chiles.

Ana Barbosu, Romania’s first Olympic gymnastics medalist since 2012, has committed to Stanford University for the 2026 NCAA season.
Barbosu's announcement makes her the first non-American Olympic medalist to participate in NCAA women’s gymnastics, marking a historic moment for the sport.
Her NCAA debut is expected to overlap with Jordan Chiles’ senior year at UCLA, potentially reigniting their rivalry from the controversial 2024 Olympic floor final.
The Paris Olympics floor final saw Barbosu retroactively awarded the bronze medal after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling invalidated Chiles’ score adjustment due to a late appeal.
Chiles continues to contest the CAS decision in Swiss courts, while Barbosu has expressed empathy for all parties involved in the medal controversy.