Dr. Dismount: Auburn gymnast, future physician Olivia Hollingsworth

AUBURN, Ala. – Watching Olivia Hollingsworth score 39.175 in the all-around during Auburn’s first home meet of the season, you’d never know she spent seven-and-a-half hours the day before taking the Medical College Admissions Test in Montgomery.  

The junior tumbled and danced her way to a career-high 9.9 on floor and equaled her career best with a 9.85 on bars to help the Tigers defeat Arkansas on Jan. 20, each dismount and combination reducing the pressure Hollingsworth faced while taking the MCAT.

“I started studying in the summer,” the aspiring physician said. “It was definitely tiring but it was exciting to go compete afterward and let all of the stress go.”

Hollingsworth will soon begin applying to medical schools located in her native Texas. A summer internship could help her choose between oncology and pediatrics, just as last summer’s study abroad in Costa Rica affirmed her career choice.

“I got to get hands-on medical experience, meet patients, learn how to take vitals,” she said. “That definitely confirmed that I wanted to be in the medical field.”

Having started gymnastics at age 4 in the same club facility where Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and Olivia’s current Auburn teammate, freshman Olivia Greaves, developed, Hollingsworth searched for a college program that would provide high-level competition while also allowing for fun.

“The No. 1 thing that drew me in was the coaches,” Hollingsworth said, seeking a change from the intensity of club and elite coaching. “I wanted to come to college and have a relaxing experience and get to enjoy the sport.”

She found that – and more – at Auburn.

“The campus is obviously beautiful,” she said. “You have a team supporting you whether you do good or bad. It’s been a fun experience.”

Hollingsworth’s journey to becoming one of Auburn’s reliable all-arounders included a significant setback.

On March 5, 2021, the final home meet of her freshman season, Hollingsworth tore her right Achilles during the warm-up period prior to floor.

“I was really excited to have my first experience in postseason,” she said. “It was really hard watching everybody and me not being able to go. A tough experience.”

Determined not to redshirt in 2022 while recovering, Hollingsworth attacked physical therapy with zeal.

“I jumped into it because I knew I had to invest if I wanted to be able to come back by the next year,” she said. “That was my goal, to compete the following year.”

Goal achieved. Hollingsworth returned last season, competing on beam in every meet to help Auburn reach the Final Four at the NCAA Championships for the first time.

“It felt like all my work had paid off,” she said. “I could feel the energy from the team and the coaches. Everyone was proud of me whether I made that beam routine. It is a long and hard process but it’s very rewarding in the end when you get to come back to what you wanted to do.”

Hollingsworth’s surgery and rehab provided additional insight into the contribution of health care professionals.

“It showed the big support system within the medical field,” she said. “Getting to help people achieve their goals and come back from things like this, it was definitely inspiring.”

This season, Hollingsworth has earned spots in all four events, further showcasing her versatility by leading off and anchoring lineups while upgrading to a more difficult vault with higher scoring potential.

“A huge deal,” Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. “That possibly gives a tenth to the team’s score. She’s been steady Eddie for us. She’s always there. She takes any role we put her in and just does her job. That’s part of the secret of our success, we have a lot of selfless people on the team.

“A lot of this is mental toughness, her ability to put the past behind her and continue to push. We’ve always known she was talented, it just shows how much of a mentally tough gymnast she is.”

With perseverance in her past and promise in her future, Olivia Hollingsworth focuses on the present.

“I’m extremely excited for the rest of the season, getting to achieve my goal of competing all-around and getting better every week,” she said.

“We’ve all grown so close over the years. The team will always be there to support you, in gymnastics and in the outside things. Having this big family is really nice.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer