HBCU Gymnast Morgan Price Talks About Her Groundbreaking Gymnastics National Championship
Morgan Price is a figure of inspiration and tradition. Growing up with a deep appreciation for the history and struggles of African Americans in education, Morgan held a lifelong dream to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
Morgan Price is the new "Queen" of collegiate gymnastics after taking home the 2024 USAG Women's National Championship title this weekend. Gayle King listened to Morgan's inspirational story on Monday's CBS Mornings Show.
"I've always wanted to go to an HBCU," Price told King. "Mostly because I know that back then, African Americans weren't even allowed to go to the same schools as white people, so I just feel like it's an honor and kind of just living out my legacy and being able to show my talents and do it at an HBCU is just so honoring to me."
During Saturday's event, Price became the first HBCU gymnast in the sport's history to hold a national title, scoring 39.225 to win the competition. It's the second season for Fisk University, which embarked on the first-ever HBCU Women's Gymnastics program in 2022. Price initially considered attending the University of Arkansas but heard about the new HBCU gymnastics program. She changed her mind and switched to Fisk after talking with head coach Torrine Tarver.
Like Price, Tarver's a pioneer in gymnastics when she became the NCAA All-Around Champion in 1989 at the University of Georgia. Today and for the rest of Morgan Price's life, it's about HERstory!
"So I feel like having her as a head coach is very just honoring. Also, just to have an African American coach because I've never had an African American coach ever, and I've done the sport since I was two years old."
Price recognized her mother as a source of inspiration. "She's very inspiring. She is a widow, and she had to raise all three girls by herself and my brother. So, just to see her, she's a very hardworking mom. She has taught me everything that I know today, so I'm just very thankful for her."
The Fisk ladies will take some time off before they continue training for next season. However, Morgan said, "In gymnastics, you really don't stop training ever. So I'm just getting ready, working hard for next season, and hopefully to win another title."
What's Morgan Price's future? "My ultimate goal is just, again, to win another title and to also be an HBCU gymnastics head coach."
Remember, she's only in her second season. Will Price and her Fisk teammates will gain more confidence and more championships?
We shall see.