Michigan State University Athletics
Nikki Smith Named Finalist for Prestigious AAI Award
3/18/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics senior Nikki Smith has been named a finalist for the 2026 American Athletic Inc. (AAI) Award, given to the most outstanding senior gymnast in the country. Smith is one of seven finalists, announced Wednesday by the organization.Â
The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native was chosen as a finalist out of 45 nominees by NCAA head coaches. She is the first AAI Award finalist in program history.Â
Smith is joined by fellow Big Ten gymnasts Carly Bauman (Michigan) and Jordan Chiles (UCLA), as well as Gabby Gladieux (Alabama), Morgan Price (Arkansas), Anna Roberts (Stanford) and Faith Torrez (Oklahoma). Â
"From the first day Nikki showed up on campus, we knew that she was special. Her talent alone was proof that she would have a major impact on this team and program," said head coach Mike Rowe. "Her power, explosiveness, natural ability and technique - all enhanced by her beautiful artistry - and having fun with the performance aspect of just being Nikki, comes easily. She is the sweetest young woman who is there for everyone. She is completely humble and gives credit to her Spartan sisters. Their encouragement and support help make her shine. Nikki Smith is leaving an enormous legacy, one that may be around for quite some time."Â
Smith has rewritten the MSU record books in her four years as a Spartan. Last season, she was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, becoming just the third gymnast in program history to win the award and the first since 2007. She owns five of the top 10 all-around scores in school history, including the all-around record with a 39.775 set in 2024, and is the only MSU gymnast to score four perfect 10.000s with two on both vault and floor. Smith is one of three MSU gymnasts all-time to earn three First Team All-Big Ten honors and is a six-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Week selection.Â
She also helped MSU to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season titles in 2023 and 2024 and was a part of the Spartans' Big Ten Championships win inside Jenison Field House in 2024.Â
On the national stage, Smith is a two-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Regular Season All-American on vault, earning First Team honors in 2025 and a Second Team nod in 2024. She has competed at the NCAA Championships twice, helping MSU qualify as a team in 2025 for the first time since 1987 and second time in program history, while also qualifying as an individual in 2024 on beam after capturing the NCAA Gainesville Regional title on the event. Â
Smith holds career highs of 10.000 on vault and floor, 9.975 on bars and 9.950 on beam and has collected 43 individual event titles and 15 all-around titles during her career. Â
This season, she currently ranks in a tie for seventh nationally on floor and 10th in the all-around.Â
A standout in the classroom, Smith is a three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and Academic All-Big Ten selection, two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree and 2025 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. She will graduate with a degree in Studio Art from MSU this spring.Â
Players Mentioned
