Naimah Muhammad is proud of her place in history as a part of the Fisk gymnastics team, the first in HBCU sports.
However, she’s not pleased with the way the program is ending after just four seasons.
“I’m disheartened, I’m discouraged, I’m angry and I’m mad,” Muhammad said during a recent Instagram live video.
Muhammad read from the Fisk University press release that building a recruiting pipeline would be difficult due to the university’s association with the HBCUAC, which she quickly rebutted.
For the record, so many girls want to come to Fisk,” she said. “We [the gymnastics team] know people. I’ve gotten DMs from parents asking ‘How can I get my daughter go to Fisk?”
Fisk announced the program’s cancellation this past Friday, triggering a widespread reaction of discouragement and heartache in the gymnastics community. The spring 2026 season is expected to be the last ride for the first HBCU gymnastics team in history.
Muhammad’s frustration and concern for her current teammates and what the future will hold for them led her to ask a question.
“How can we expect HBCUs to start programs if they aren’t committed to maintaining them and don’t care about their athletes,” she said.
