Kailin Chio

Chio was born to Sara and Nathan Chio in 2006 in Henderson, Nevada. She started gymnastics in 2009.^[1]

Chio competed at the 2021 American Classic where she finished first in the all-around in the junior division.^[2] In late May she competed at the U.S. Classic where she placed second in the all-around behind Katelyn Jong.^[3] In June Chio competed at the 2021 U.S. National Championships. She ended the two day competition fifth in the all-around. She won gold on vault and bronze on floor exercise.^[4] As a result, Chio was added to the national team for the first time. Additionally she was selected to represent the United States at the Junior Pan American Championships alongside Jong, Madray Johnson, and Kaliya Lincoln.^[5]

At the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships Chio helped the USA finish first in the team final. Individually she won silver on the floor exercise behind compatriot Lincoln.^[6][7] In November of that year Chio was selected to represent the United States at the inaugural Junior Pan American Games alongside Katelyn Jong, Madray Johnson, and Tiana Sumanasekera.^[8] While there the United States placed first as a team and individually Chio won gold on floor exercise, silver in the all-around behind Jong, and bronze on uneven bars behind Johnson and Aurélie Tran of Canada.

Chio became age-eligible for senior competition in 2022. However, she did not compete during the season due to injury.

On January 9, 2023, Chio announced on her Instagram that she had retired from elite level gymnastics and would be competing Level 10.^[9]

In October 2022, she verbally committed to compete for the LSU Tigers gymnastics team starting in the 2024–25 season.^[10] In November 2023, Chio signed her National Letter of Intent with the LSU Tigers.^[11]

Chio made her collegiate debut on January 3, 2025 in a meet against the Iowa State Cyclones. She competed on all four events, earning an all-around score of 39.575 to help LSU win.^[12] As a result she was named SEC Freshman of the Week.^[13] On March 14, 2025 Chio earned her first collegiate perfect ten on vault in a meet at Auburn University.^[14] At the end of the regular season Chio was named 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year.^[15] For her freshman season performance she took home All-America honors on every event and the all-around, the most of any LSU gymnast in their debut season. Uneven bars was the only event where she earned Second Team honors.^[16]

At the 2025 NCAA Championships Chio scored a 9.975 on vault to win the national vault title outright. She placed sixth in the all-around.^[17] She earned 2 postseason First Team All-America honors in vault and in the all-around.^[18]

In the regular season finale versus No. 8 Arkansas, Chio competed only on three events and earned a perfect 30.000, scoring perfect 10s on vault, beam, and floor, breaking the record at LSU for most perfect 10s in a season - nine. She was named the SEC Specialist of the Week on March 17, her first honor as a specialist.^[19]

At the SEC Championship, Chio took home the vault and all-around title with a 9.975 and 39.775, respectively. In the anchor spot on balance beam she stuck a 9.950, placing second. But, it wasn't enough as LSU finished in third, behind Florida and Oklahoma.^[20]

Chio was named the SEC Gymnast of the Year for her standout sophomore season, including 33 event titles and ranking as the No. 1 gymnast in the NCAA for four consecutive weeks. She also earned All-SEC honors, recording a top four score on each event, including the all-around, during the 2026 SEC Gymnastics Championships.^[21][22]