Gymnast Diamond Cook makes a college roster and a little history

Diamond Cook’s strongest event is floor routine. Photo by Kiya Darden

By Kiya Darden, North News Intern

Diamond Cook, 19, participated in a gymnastics camp earlier this summer with no prospects of a collegiate future in the sport.

By the time the camp was finished, she left with an offer to compete at Talladega College, home to one of only two HBCU gymnastics programs in the country.

She had originally planned to continue competing at a club level in Minnesota in hopes she would eventually catch the eye of a college coach. Her wish came sooner than expected.

It was at a Brown Girls Do Gymnastics camp where Talladega University coach, Aja Sims-Fletcher, recognized Diamond’s talent. During a routine, Sims-Fletcher challenged Diamond to go up on the high beams instead of the low ones that they had been practicing on.

Reluctant at first, Diamond tried and succeeded.

She received cheers from the rest of the gym and praise from her coach. From that alone, Sims-Fletcher asked for Diamond’s information and to talk to her about going to Talladega. On July 19, she signed her form to commit just a month before she was set to attend the University of Minnesota.

Cook takes a break from practice with her fellow gymnasts. Photo by Kiya Darden

When Diamond met the Talladega coach, she had already assumed it would be impossible to join a college team. Gymnasts generally don’t compete after high school.

“It [being recruited] was really exciting because it felt like I was finally being recognized for my talents,” Diamond said.

Diamond's elder sister, Danyale Potts-Cook, said Diamond is finally seeing the fruits of her labor.

“She’s always been fearless,” Potts- Cook said. Potts-Cook remembers her sister doing flips off of couches and counters to release pent up energy when she was a little girl.

Her parents recognized that she needed a place to release that energy and the couch wasn’t cutting it. They enrolled her in numerous classes including jazz and ballet but it was gymnastics that won out. Starting at age 6, Diamond learned crucial skills and techniques. And by the age of nine she was on her first gymnastics team.

“I think it’s [gymnastics] the only thing that really pushes me,” Diamond said. “It really challenges me and I like that.”

In her current gym, Richfield Gymnastics Club (RGC), coaches say Diamond is thriving. Even on a recently injured ankle she trained 20-30 hours a week. Jaime Tsurusaki ,Director of RGC Gym and Diamond’s head coach calls Diamond an “all- around powerhouse” as she dabbles in almost everything.

“She is a hard worker, her work ethic kind of stands above the ground. I think a lot of that is maturity and that she asks questions to make sure she understands what she needs to do in order to get to that game,” said Tsurusaki.

After accepting Sims-Fletcher’s offer, Diamond had one month to move to Alabama. Her mother, Sharon Cook, said it's bittersweet to see her daughter follow her dreams in the South. Diamond's family hasn’t missed any of her competitions since she first began competing.

“I haven’t had a chance to really let it sink in that she’s leaving,” her mother said.

Cook’s upper-body strength is evident when she climbs rope. Photo by Kiya Darden

Diamond officially arrived at Talladega College's campus in early August and began training for the upcoming season that begins in January. While in college, Diamond plans to study sports management so she can become a gymnastics coach and eventually open a gym.

Diamond said she works hard because she wants to be a role model for the younger gymnasts who dream about the opportunity she has. She’s learned a big lesson to always pursue her dreams and not second-guess herself.

“I like the feeling of being able to do something that I’ve been working so hard for and looking back at it and say wow, I can actually do this,” she said.