Sydney Kho, a senior gymnast at Boise State University, spoke about her journey in gymnastics and the support she has received from her family and teammates, according to a March 12 announcement. Kho followed in the footsteps of her older sisters, Caitlin and Kaylee, who both competed at Southern Utah University.
Kho said that watching her sisters train and compete inspired her to pursue gymnastics from an early age. “Seeing them both in gymnastics, especially while growing up, definitely paved a path for me to follow in their footsteps,” she said.
The sisters supported each other through the challenges of club gymnastics. Caitlin Kho said, “Club gymnastics can be really tough. There are a lot of hard days. But we always had each other, and that made a huge difference.” Sydney added that competing against her sisters during college meets was particularly meaningful: “It was unforgettable being able to compete with them for two years. Seeing them in their element and having that friendly sister competition made those meets extra special.”
At Boise State, Sydney adapted to the team-oriented atmosphere of collegiate gymnastics. She credited regular conversations with her sisters for helping her adjust: “In club, it’s a super serious environment,” she said. “But in college… they would tell me how energetic the team was and how great the atmosphere felt.”
Tina Bird, head coach of Boise State Broncos Women’s Gymnastics, praised Sydney’s leadership this season. “This year, she’s definitely stepped up as a leader,” Bird said. “The younger athletes really look up to her since she sets an example with her work ethic, her focus, and her positive energy.”
Sydney has been a consistent performer for Boise State’s vault lineup since joining the team and has participated in NCAA Regionals multiple times. Bird noted Sydney’s growth: “Really, it’s her confidence in herself that has grown the most… but when she got to the program, she truly had to grow into her own.”
Her sister Kaylee also commented on Sydney’s perseverance: “She’s always been such a hard worker and never lets anything negative show… No matter what’s going on, she always pushes through it.” Off the mat, Sydney values time spent with friends as part of maintaining balance between athletics and daily life.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Sydney emphasized team goals: “A goal for me and the whole team is winning the Mountain West,” she said. “The Mountain West is what we have our eyes, hearts and mind set on, and I know that we’ve put in the work to get there.” In addition to athletic achievements, Sydney has earned academic honors including WCGA Scholastic All-American recognition.
Kho’s story highlights resilience both inside and outside competition as she continues contributing to Boise State’s success.
