More Than a Gymnast, Azaraya Ra-Akbar Eyes 2027 Elite Season

In an exclusive interview with Inside Gymnastics, Azaraya Ra-Akbar and University of Alabama Head Coach Ashley Johnston discuss Ra-Akbar’s absence from both the 2026 American and U.S. Classic after qualifying for both events in May. 

Ra-Akbar began her career as a junior Elite for the U.S., before changing nationalities to Canada where she made her senior Elite debut. After beginning college at Alabama, Ra-Akbar decided to switch nationalities back to Team USA. Logistical changes, such as having an active Canadian FIG license, and the timing of the nationality switch kept Ra-Akbar from U.S. domestic competitions in 2026. However, she has no intention of stopping her Elite journey she told us, and is already looking towards the 2027 Elite season.  

The Obstacles 

Azaraya Ra-Akbar’s Elite gymnastics journey has already been filled with triumphs, rockstar moments, changes, and unforeseen challenges. Through it all, one thing has remained: her absolute passion for her sport and her drive to embrace the journey as much as the end result.

The Baltimore, Maryland native grew up in the U.S. Elite program coached by her Jubael. She earned strong results early on in junior Elite competitions, including a top 10 finish in the All-Around at the 2021 U.S. Championships and a bronze medal on floor at the 2022 Winter Cup. Ra-Akbar was born to an American father and Canadian mother and holds dual citizenship for both the U.S. and Canada. Her family moved to Canada prior to the 2023 season to take care of her grandmother and remained there to be with family. While living in Canada, Ra-Akbar decided it would be best to begin representing her mother’s home country. She competed throughout 2023 and was the 2023 Elite Canada floor champion. 

When Ra-Akbar moved to Alabama for college in the fall of 2025, she still had the desire to compete in Elite gymnastics, but the question was, would she compete for Canada or the U.S.? Back in the U.S. for college, she decided that returning to compete for the States was her best option. Ra-Akbar quickly began working her Elite skills again when she arrived in Alabama knowing she had every intention to return to the Elite field after her freshman campaign.

Without a break and time to process her NCAA season, Ra-Akbar jumped back into Elite competition at the end of May at an Elite qualifier, marking her first Elite competition in nearly two years. Her success there earned her a spot to compete at both the American and U.S. Classic. However, being allowed to compete in U.S. domestic competition created an expected set of challenges. Two factors held her back from competing: 

1. Having an active Canadian FIG (international gymnastics) license. 
2. The timing of her nationality change from Canada to the U.S.

The Alabama coaching staff worked to address the situation, allowing Ra-Akbar to train peacefully and focus on her gymnastics. One day before her flight to the American Classic, Ra-Akbar officially learned that she would not be able to compete. 

“At one point Aza was competing for the U.S. and then for Canada,” Ashley Johnston explained. “We ultimately got to a point where we had tried every method possible, and had a lot of people involved with trying to make this decision, to ultimately find out that we can’t get her nationality changed back over to compete for the U.S. until November. I do want to emphasize that USA Gymnastics leadership really was phenomenal in helping us work through this.”

Breaking Down The Logistics 

The situation that Ra-Akbar presented to USA Gymnastics was unlike anything the federation has dealt with in the past. Johnston understood months before the American Classic in June that there could be issues with getting Ra-Akbar to U.S. domestic events in 2026. They originally expected to get a waiver for Ra-Akbar’s outstanding Canadian FIG license, but were not able to also get a waiver for the nationality switch from Canada to the U.S. 

“We thought we were going to be able to be granted a waiver for [the FIG license] because she met a lot of the criteria of how you can apply that. The problem was there’s a separate concept of a nationality change, and they’re two separate situations. And we finally were able to clarify what that meant and how it pertained to Aza’s situation. So it actually wasn’t the FIG license that was the issue, it was the nationality change, and that’s what will time out in November to allow her to change that nationality status to compete for the U.S.” 

The Alabama staff were prepared to face challenges on this road, but wanted to provide their athlete with every opportunity possible to compete.

“We had been preparing for some of these logistical hurdles for months at that point, and we’re really trying to navigate what was the best way forward,” Johnston explained. “We were all fighting tooth and nail to try to figure out a solution because everybody has been really excited about Aza competing and being on that stage, and so we ultimately got to a point where we had tried every method possible, had a lot of people involved with trying to make this decision to ultimately find out that we can’t get her nationality changed back over to compete for the U.S. until November, and so at that point is when we are going to be able to start this process of you know as a competing at a Classics or a Winter Cup, and so we’re still moving forward with that train of thought, we have the same vision and goal and how we’re moving forward.”

Johnston emphasized multiple times throughout the interview that the USA Gymnastics staff were phenomenal to work with and were also fighting to find a solution. Everybody involved with the situation wanted to see Ra-Akbar take the Elite stage. She worked closely with USAG Vice President of Women’s Gymnastics, Annie Heffernon. 

“I worked with Annie on this whole process. I have a great relationship with Annie, just being a judge with FIG, and so we’ve worked through a lot of different logistical situations over my entire career,” Johnston said “She was so excited for Aza and just did everything to help her and to help us find a way. Her communication was Elite-level. She was just phenomenal in helping us move forward with this. I know we’ll continue to work with her as we navigate these next couple of steps along the way to get to that place. I’ve had numerous conversations with several people within USA leadership. But Annie has really been the trailblazer, I would say, in helping us really interpret all the different situations to put her in the best spot to be able to compete, and I think one thing to mention is it’s very rare. It’s a very unique situation to have an athlete switch their nationality status back to the U.S. It’s not as frequent that you see somebody come back to the U.S. and again, I think there was some newness to navigating what that all was going to look like. Ultimately, we now have a plan. We know the steps we need to take to put her in a position where she can compete next summer.”

More Than A Gymnast

The news wasn’t easy to handle, and came with initial disappointment for Ra-Akbar. Getting back to Elite form was no easy task. She took on an Elite gymnastic training schedule just days after the 2026 NCAA season concluded, instead of having the usual time off her teammates were taking following their season. In addition to having a serious schedule, she added an hour-long commute both ways to train at multiple different club gyms in Birmingham while Alabama’s facility was closed. Alabama Assistant Coach, Ross Thompson, coordinated with multiple different gyms to provide Ra-Akbar with the training time needed. Preparing for her Elite return was difficult, and she had hoped her preparation would be rewarded with multiple big meets later in the summer. 

Ra-Akbar and the entire Alabama staff approached the news that she wouldn’t be able to compete with their signature positive outlook, taking the good and learning from the bad. 

“I was bummed because I wanted to be able to compete,” Ra-Akbar said. “That was my goal. I just wanted to do gymnastics, but I know that this whole situation was very new for everybody, and that I did see a lot of people working very hard to make sure that it could happen, but it ultimately wasn’t able to, so the bumness was there. But at the same time, all the work that I had done leading up to that moment, it didn’t feel like it was a waste. It actually made me feel better going into college next year.”

Ra-Akabr took the afternoon to sit with her sadness, she said, but by that night she started to understand that there was nothing to be upset about, and that every experience is something she cherishes. She also recognized just how much she grew as a person and athlete during that time.

“Later that night it was a lot easier for me to see it through that perspective of okay, well I got better,” Ra-Akbar explained. “I think I definitely grew some toughness also during our whole training situation. There was just a lot of little little loops here and there, but I wouldn’t even change it for the world. If I knew that the outcome would have been that, I would have still trained the same way. I’m just very happy and proud to know that my stamina, both mentally and physically, was challenged in that way.”

After the time and dedication she invested, it would have been understandble for Ra-Akbar to be devastated by this situation and give up. Instead, she was positive and grateful throughout our conversation with her. She was able to develop a unique perspective on the situation and answered each of our questions with an upbeat and joyful demeanor that’s sometimes rare when talking about difficult scenarios such as this. It’s clear that Ra-Akbar approaches every aspect of her gymnastics and life in this manner. 

Johnston could not be more complimentary of Ra-Akbar as a gymnast and most importantly as a person. 

“I think it’s really important for the world to know that Aza is the most humble person I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Johnston said. “She is the SEC Freshman of the Year. She’s one of our team captains, has done some amazing things within our program already, and is training at an incredibly high level. Yet, never has a sense about her that’s like, I’m better than that. She is always the one to meet people on whatever level they are. No matter what they’re going through, and just help them.” 

Ra-Akbar has quickly become an incredible ambassador for gymnastics, not just for the high-class skills she executes on a daily basis, but also how she approaches each routine. She was bombarded by younger gymnasts asking for photos and autographs at the Elite Qualifier in May, despite it not being a perfect meet in her book. It showcases just how quickly she has  inspired others. 

“I think there’s major accolades that are coming your way, but none of that’s going to matter in the grand scheme of things,” Johnston told Ra-Akbar. “How you make people feel along the way is what changes lives and leaves a legacy, and you’re already doing that.”

Not About Medals 

Ra-Akbar began her Elite gymnastics journey in Maryland coached by her father. From the beginning they were on the Olympic journey together and that dream became a shared goal. 

“You couldn’t have been more than four years old when I first told you about the heartbreak of my journey through gymnastics,” Jubael said about his daughter on Instagram. “As I spoke, I turned and saw tears streaming down your face like a river. Even then, before you could fully understand my words, somehow your heart understood my pain. It took me years to realize that your journey was never about medals, titles, or accomplishments. Those are only temporary things. Your true gift to me was far greater. Through your movement, your grace, and your courage, you honored my story in a way I never could have imagined.” 

The vulnerability in the Instagram post made by Ra-Akbar’s father touched the hearts of many. Seeing his daughter begin her college journey helped him let go and watch his daughter rebirth her gymnastics journey. 

“I’m constantly evolving what my love is for the sport, and I think he sees that, and I think the post was very vulnerable, and I think it’s something he’s always been thinking about. But I think just sharing it with everybody, I think, was really sweet,” Ra-Akbar said. 

“I release you from every burden that I unknowingly placed upon your shoulders. You were never meant to carry my dreams, my disappointments, or my unfinished story. Those belong to me, and I carry them no longer,” the post continued. “Now your story belongs to you.So spread your wings and fly without guilt, without fear, and without the weight of my past. Chase the life that God has prepared for you, wherever it leads. And if I am blessed enough, perhaps one day we will still fly together—not because you are carrying me, but because we are both finally free.” 

This emotional post signifies the beginning of Ra-Akbar’s new gymnastics journey. The journey back to Elite gymnastics in 2027 is still very much on her mind, as well competing for a spot on the LA28 Olympic team, but facing this journey with her lighthearted and fun spirit while continuing to inspire her peers and younger generations of gymnasts remains of highest importance.

Author’s Note

This interview in August marks the third time over the course of the last year that Inside Gymnastics has spoken with Azaraya. In December of 2025, Inside Gymnastics took a trip to the University of Alabama (see Sweet Home Alabama here!). We had the opportunity to watch the team practice in the weeks prior to the 2026 NCAA season. Ra-Akbar immediately struck me as she showcased an incredible combination of difficulty, execution, and poise throughout each event. The coaches and staff already had her in the anchor position or near the end of the lineup in all four events. 

The height and amplitude on her Yurchenko 1.5 on vault was evident. “She looks like she could double that vault,” I said to myself. “Actually she can do a 2.5 in the pit,” replied Johnston. Ra-Akbar’s stardom was evident after just one practice. She seamlessly transitioned the way she practiced to the competition floor. In her first-ever collegiate routine against Clemson, she earned a near perfect 9.975 on bars.

Throughout the college season Ra-Akbar gained confidence after each meet as she learned from her experiences. The same goes for each time I have interviewed her. Over the course of seven months she went from the reserved and determined freshman to the leader of Alabama gymnastics, eloquently talking us through a scenario that hardly any gymnast has ever been through. Ra-Akbar’s talent is astonishing, but so is her outlook on life and sports. I left the conversation feeling like I could learn something from her perspective: Sometimes you have to see the good within your own disappointment. Her joy despite the circumstance left me feeling inspired and excited to continue following her unique journey. 

Teammate connection is the most important aspect of Alabama Gymnastics’ values. The “Bamaly” as they call it is always there for each other. 

“From the beginning of the season to the end, I think my teammates have shown me that they’re more than teammates, they’re family,” Ra-Akbar said. “They’ve been helping me through it, even when I’m having a harder practice, and I just need somebody to talk to. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to your teammates than your coaches. They are always here for me no matter what. They were very excited about the whole process, so it was also very cool having that. I didn’t feel alone at all, I didn’t feel alone in the gym. I think that really speaks to just who we are as a program.”

The program is more than gymnastics. It is not a business they are creating, but a team who is there for each other in every aspect of their lives.

“We’re super close, and it’s not just a transactional thing in the gym. We genuinely care for each other, and we genuinely care about each other’s passions and goals outside and in the gym. I really felt that throughout the whole process.”

Ra-Akbar is looking ahead to the 2027 Elite season and competing towards LA28. No doubt she will have an army of supporters behind her, from teammates, to coaches, to family, she could not ask for a greater support system, and I myself could not be more excited to witness every step of the journey.

Photos By: Evan Manivong