Freshman Azaraya Ra-Akbar is a gymnastics legend in the making. In her first season, she scored a perfect 10 on the uneven bars, was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year, and was ranked No. 2 in the nation on the uneven bars.
Ra-Akbar is Alabama’s first SEC Freshman of the Year since Andreé Pickens in 1999, and is Alabama’s fourth gymnast ever to achieve this title, alongside Pickens, Meredith Willard and Robin Hawkins.
“It’s so fun to be able to celebrate all that she’s done, all that she’s put into her accomplishments this season,” head coach Ashley Johnston said. “She’s been so eager to get out there and compete, and I think has really fallen in love with competing.”
Ra-Akbar has been a standout freshman for Alabama and across the nation. In her first collegiate meet in January 2026, she scored an impressive 9.975 on the uneven bars at Clemson. Over the course of the 2026 season, she has performed lights out on the uneven bars, even reaching the perfect score of 10 at Illinois.
“The team genuinely had genuine joy for me,” Ra-Akbar said in an interview with The Crimson White. “I know it was something I’ll never forget.”
Since Week 9 of the season, Ra-Akbar has been ranked No. 2 on the uneven bars in the country. Ra-Akbar took the uneven bars title five times this season.
While being a standout performer on the uneven bars, she has put up consistent scores on the floor and vault. On the vault, she has scored two 9.975s, with her most recent being in the win against Kentucky.
On the floor, Ra-Akbar’s highest score has been a 9.95, achieved three times this season. Her most recent 9.95 was in the loss to Georgia.
“I think with floor I get into that flow state of performing,” she said. “After the first pass, I’m like, ‘Okay.’ That’s the one event where the nerves genuinely come down towards the end.”
Ra-Akbar also competed in the all-around a few times when she was needed in the balance beam lineup. Having dependable gymnasts is crucial for a gymnastics team to thrive, and she proved she is a gymnast the team can depend on when she is thrown into tricky situations.
Ra-Akbar clinched her first all-around title with a score of 39.6 against Florida in January.
In a post on X, Ra-Akbar’s mother said that she had not competed on the vault or uneven bars since 2023 and hadn’t competed on the floor or balance beam since February 2024 due to injuries. In collegiate competition, Ra-Akbar showed she was able to overcome these injuries and perform well on all events.
With a remarkable freshman season like this, fans should look for what Ra-Akbar will do in her remaining three years with Alabama gymnastics.
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