College Gymnastics Recruiting: Romania to California
Stanford Gymnastics Welcomes a Wave of International Talent
The Stanford Cardinal women’s gymnastics team, led by Head Coach Tabitha Yim adn Clemson Co-Head Coach justin Howell, enters the 2026 season as the defending ACC Champions, having won the title in their first appearance after conference realignment.
This year’s team is particularly exciting due to its remarkable freshman class,featuring athletes from Romania,Sweden,and the Philippines.
Hear are some key highlights:
* Levi Jung-Ruivivar (Philippines): A redshirt freshman and 2024 Philippine Olympian who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Games.
* Jennifer Williams (Sweden): A highly anticipated NCAA debut for the five-star recruit (per College Gym News), known for her elegance and form. She was a finalist on balance beam and floor exercise at the European Championships.
* Ana Barbosu (Romania): Perhaps the most prominent newcomer, Barbosu made headlines after a controversial medal reallocation at the 2024 olympic floor final, ultimately earning a bronze medal – Romania’s first as 2016. She continued her success in 2025, winning four medals at the European Championships, including all-around bronze and gold on floor exercise (Romania’s first all-around medal in 12 years). She is the first individual Olympic medalist from a country other than the United States to compete in NCAA gymnastics.
Why Stanford?
Stanford’s appeal to these international athletes lies in the unique opportunity to combine high-level athletic competition wiht a world-class education in a supportive team habitat.As Coach Yim explains, many countries don’t offer the same integration of athletics and academics. Barbosu herself described the Stanford gymnastics environment as “just like family.”
Another European champion, Emma Malewski (Germany), the 2022 European Champion on balance beam, will also be joining the NCAA.