Mizzou gymnastics sophomore Kaia Tanskanen is gearing up for the World Challenge Cup in Paris, happening on September 13-14. The event will take place at Accor Arena, with competitions split between the morning and evening. On Saturday, athletes will perform vault and uneven bars first, followed by balance beam and floor routines later. Finals are set for Sunday, following the Olympic order of events.
In May, Tanskanen shined at the European Championship, finishing 11th with an all-around score of 50.799. This score was not only impressive but also the best from any Finnish athlete at the championship. By scoring over 48.000, she secured her spot in the 2025 World Championship.
This will be Tanskanen’s third World Championship appearance, scheduled for October 19-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The 2023 event was her last, where she achieved various scores, including 13.333 on vault and 12.800 on floor.
During her freshman season at Mizzou, Tanskanen made her mark by competing 12 times, mainly on vault and floor. She dazzled with four scores of 9.875 or higher on floor routines, including a solid 9.900 in her first competition against Georgia.
Gymnastics runs in Tanskanen’s family. Her father, Juha, competed for Finland at the World Championships, and her mother, Kim, was also a formidable gymnast at Iowa. Her uncle, Jani, even claimed the High Bar World Championship.
As Tanskanen prepares for these upcoming competitions, the gymnastics community will be watching closely, eager to see how she builds on her past performances. For the latest updates on Mizzou gymnastics, you can follow the team on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
