At one point, she had firmly decided her gymnastics career was over. After years of graceful performances and high-level competition, chronic back pain—specifically, a condition called spondylolisthesis—left her not only physically limited but emotionally worn down. In 2023, she stepped away from the sport, seemingly for good.
This athlete first made her collegiate debut in 2020, known for beam routines that resembled expressive art as much as athletic performance. Despite a history that included an ACL tear and persistent burnout, she continued to shine during the 2023 season. That year, she was recognized as a WCGA Second Team All-American and posted scores of 9.900 or higher in ten of thirteen meets. Her standout moment came at Ball State, where she earned a near-perfect 9.975. Many assumed this dazzling season would be her final act.
After retiring at the age of 22, she chose a completely different path—one that had nothing to do with mats or medals. She embarked on an 11-month journey around the globe with her sister, exploring life beyond the gym. From surfing on the shores of Ecuador and meditating in Indian yoga retreats to savoring Vietnamese street food and experiencing Nordic culture in Finland, she embraced the opportunity to live freely. A ten-week stay in Las Tunas, a beachside town in Ecuador, became one of her favorite chapters. There, she worked at a hostel, soaked in the sun, and captured moments of peace—one of which she would later reflect on in a social media post that paired a coconut-in-hand beach photo with an image from the NCAA Championship.
365 days ago vs yesterday 🙂 pic.twitter.com/zLyjXEnE8y
— Helen Hu (@hu_dat_gymnast) April 20, 2025
On April 19, 2025, her former college team achieved its best result in program history by securing third place at the NCAA Championship Final. Though she wasn’t expected to compete just a year before, her presence was once again central. In fact, she had returned to competition—something almost no one anticipated.
Her comeback was sparked by a simple series of events. After her global trip, she moved to Chicago and began planning a coaching career. But while attending a teammate’s wedding in Columbia, Missouri, she stayed with a current team member and casually joined a gym session. What began as stretching turned into trying an aerial, then two, and realizing she still had the skills. That spontaneous moment reignited something in her.
By October 2024, she was officially back with the team. She later said that the feeling she had more to give—and the belief that she could still contribute—was too powerful to ignore. That intuition paid off.
Her performances in 2025 were some of the strongest of her career. She earned a 9.965 on beam in her final routine and helped lead her team to their historic finish. She also became the first gymnast from her university to score three perfect 10s in a single season on the same event. Her accomplishments included titles such as NCAA Seattle Regional Beam Champion, SEC Beam Champion, and WCGA Beam First Team All-American. She ranked fourth nationally in the beam standings by NQS.
Her return to competition wasn’t planned. It wasn’t part of some comeback blueprint. But it turned out to be the turning point for a team chasing history. In their first-ever NCAA Championship Final, the team posted a 197.2500 score, surpassing their previous best finish of fifth place. While multiple gymnasts on the roster rose to the occasion, her leadership and talent provided the spark that helped elevate the team.
Reflecting on her unexpected return, she acknowledged how surprising the journey had been. Yet, she also shared that she always believed in the team’s potential—and that belief was a key reason she came back.