Olympian Emma Malabuyo’s clutch beam routine sends UCLA to NCAA finals
Emma Malabuyo | Photo from uclagymnastics/Instagram
Proving she was born for high-stakes moments, Filipino American Olympic gymnast Emma Malabuyo delivered a near-flawless beam routine that catapulted the UCLA Bruins into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) gymnastics final for the first time in six years.
With the weight of the team’s hopes resting on her shoulders during the semi-final session, she did far more than a landing. Sticking the landing with remarkable poise, she scored a season-high 9.975 on beam and highly secured UCLA’s spot in the final. This feat cemented her reputation as a true clutch performer.
“Emma Malabuyo, you’re the definition of clutch,” B1G Gymnastics shared in an Instagram post with a collage of Malabuyo’s moments, echoing the sentiment of the UCLA gymnastics community.
The comment section was flooded with “Go Bruins.”
The Bruins, seeded fifth, edged past top-seeded LSU with a 197.7375 total, ending the session in first place. The team’s final beam rotation sealed the deal, with a 49.550 that included three consecutive 9.9s to close.
View this post on Instagram
Alongside UCLA, Utah, Oklahoma and Missouri will round out the NCAA gymnastics Final Four.
Malabuyo’s standout performance isn’t confined to the beam. Her recent floor routine choreographed to a medley of hits by Grammy-winning Filipino American artist Bruno Mars – has quickly become a fan favorite. The routine radiates joy, cultural pride and charisma, showcasing her technical mastery and love for music.
“I love Bruno Mars. He is my favorite artist of all time,” Malabuyo told International Gymnast Media. “Also (the fact that he is half-Filipino) was another big part. I was like, ‘I just represented the Philippines (in Paris), and he’s half-Filipino, so I really want to do a routine inspired by him.’”
Her journey to this moment has been one for the history books. In 2024, she proudly represented the Philippines at the Paris Olympics as part of the country’s first women’s artistic gymnastics team to compete in six decades.
