Alabama super senior gymnast Luisa Blanco punched her ticket to the Paris Olympics Monday night, becoming the sixth gymnast in Crimson Tide history to participate in the Olympics. She earned her Olympic spot as part of Team Columbia.

Blanco, who led a dramatic comeback at home last season over Auburn and their Olympian Suni Lee, became the sixth Alabama gymnast in program history to earn a spot at the Olympics.

While competing for Colombia in her Pan American Games debut, Blanco was the highest scoring eligible athlete in the All-Around final after posting a 50.099 score.

The 2021 NCAA balance beam champion led the Crimson Tide to the 2021 Southeastern Conference Championship team title and back-to-back SEC titles in 2022 and 2023. Blanco announced during the spring that she would return to the Crimson Tide for her fifth and final collegiate season as a super senior for the 2024 season.

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Said Blanco: “Life doesn’t even feel real right now. I can’t really process what I just accomplished, but what I do know is that I did not do this alone. I wouldn’t have been able to go out with this level of confidence if it wasn’t for all the moments I’ve had competing with Alabama and representing the Script A.

"It takes a village to do something this amazing, and I just cannot thank my teammates, coaches and support system enough for their endless support toward my goals and for being such an influential part of my journey.”

MORE ABOUT BLANCO

• She made her Pan American Games debut last weekend as a member of Team Colombia
• She ws the 2021 NCAA champion on the balance beam
• Blanco was named the 2021 SEC Gymnast of the Year as well as the 2021 Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Region 1 Gymnast of the Year
• She is a 16-time All-American, a four-time SEC champion – all-around, vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and a three-time Scholastic All-American