Tuesday marked the last practice for the Bruins and retiring head coach Valorie Kondos Field. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the roller coaster of emotions.
Coach Val is one in a million! This day had to be so hard. She loved every single girl who had ever been on her teams. She reminded them to have fun and to love one another. Such a class act who will be missed. I’m from Utah but am rooting for UCLA to win it...for her🌷
I've never been a huge gymnastics fan, but this team & these ladies have that it factor. They have fun, love one another. That's what great teams do. They are such an inspiration. Go Bruins. But in football go Colorado buffaloes.
i cried! the trust she has earned from each athlete is unlike any other. she has a special bond with everyone. her and kate are a match made in heaven. ❤️
love the ballet. because ballet is such a strong foundation because it focuses on body position! ms val really out here applying her ballet background into gymnastics beautifully!
Brielle being Brielle. 😂😂😂. I’m gonna miss this senior class so much. 😫 And congrats Miss Val, you left a legacy. What an amazing team you made this years. Now make the 117!!! 💍! 💙 forever go Bruins!
Tears in my eyes throughout! Miss Val you truly have left a legacy in your time at UCLA! As a gymnastics coach myself I aspire to have the kind of relationship you have with your athletes! A true inspiration in gymnastics and you have touched so many hearts and lives ❤️❤️
In a video you said I never wanted children of my own. I have never regretted it at all. Instead God knew you had a route to take having many in your life. In 30 yrs you have coached 100s. You became a mom,teacher of dance, philosopher, motivator and one not one will ever be without! You have went through breast cancer and still be there every moment of the way. Each one you taught is going to or has done great things because of YOU.! This is now your time to shine. You and your husband to make your own memories. Each person,male and female will tell others or teach others because you gave them the strength to love the sport and themselves.They will never leave your life and to make even further memories. Blessings to you,your husband all the support he gave and God for giving you 100s of children to teach and others who competed that wish they had you!
Her words and influences traveled way farther than UCLA ....her " do you want it " " well go get it " has stayed with me and i hear her in my head ....such a treasure mrs Val is and what a legacy
Valorie has created a great enviroment for success and greatness. All members on the team are great athletes and stars in their own right. Looking forward to watchingyou.
I think what Miss Val did was to change the look of Women's Gymnastics. She came aboard as a dance instructor, not a gymnastics instructor. Marrying the two was absolutely beautiful. Great athletes came aboard as usual, but she taught them how to be and look like a woman. The result has been some of the most beautiful girls ever. Not just at UCLA but across the entire board in the sport. That will never go away!
K I know this is emotional but I just had to mention that Katelyn’s bhs+loso+layout full dismount was SO CLEAN. katelyn, along with all of the other seniors, you will be missed.#gobruins 😭😭😭
My Mom was a Proud Bruin All Her Life (Graduated Class of 1948) ..... She NEVER stopped letting people she knew how UCLA BRUIN BLUE She Was!! Cheers Gang
Katelyn not doing all round? That's ok. I like this TEAM and the coach is putting her best 5 up for each event. Totally cool and best of luck to the UCLA team and thanks for all the young ladies who made this a very fun group and it shows in their performances and their true joy in a very tough sport
It's so amazing to see the awesome relationship between a coach and teammates! A person with that much talent, love , and who cares about their students is a rare find in today's society! She will forever be remembered, loved, and referred to as one of if not the BEST gymnastic coaches of all time! Good Luck to Mama Val in her life after Gymnastics!!❤
I hope Miss Val will stop and smell the roses many times in her travels with the team. I would like to see her remember everything very clearly in her final season. The team certainly sees that and are bringing the magic!
I recently discovered Miss. Val and I'm incredibly disappointed I did so late, she captured a piece of my heart and it's almost like it was my last practice. What a wonderful women, you can see the way she transformed lives and encouraged these young ladies into top performers, simply letting them be themselves!
I will miss you miss Val I’m crying your the best coach ever to be seen even tho I don’t know you I always watch your girls compete they are so inspireing it tells me to be good on every competition I go to and when I see this I’m going to do my states comp good just for you ms Val 😘😘
Nancy Abjornson special ed? Show me your proof. Maybe the answer was in the video, but I didn't see the whole video because I didn't have time so I *thought* you were a nice person and simply asked. I see how it is, pretending your nice and then actually being rude. Funny, i'm sure miss Val wouldn't tolerate your erroneous behaviour as Katelyn Ohashi has been through cyber bullying. I'm just stating the truth.
Naia Haji you bitch Kaitlyn Ohashi such a nice person and I don’t think she would want to be around you anyway I thought the question you wrote I thought you were trying to be rude
Mennnn i don't do gymnastics i swimm but i FREAKING CRY when i see miss val leaving such a strong and energetic woman, she has bring so much live and support on this team i love her 😭❤
she rly is a badass coach... Vals the absolute best. just shows you can love your kids and make them successful! you dnt need to tear them down and break them like so many other coaches think and yall know who im talkin about. thank the gymnastics God for Ms Val 🤍🤍 everyone's going to miss her
I will miss Miss Val sooooo much.. it’s incredible what she has meant to the team AND to the sport for all these years. Sending lots of love and hugs and kisses from the Netherlands ❤️🇳🇱
Thanks, Miss Val! I don't know you, except from RU-vid videos, but I had a marvelous time! What joy you bring with you and what joy you leave behind! With love, I wish the best of everything for you! And keep on dancing!!! I will, too!!
Ma'am I have no gymnastics bones in my body but I see the impact you've had on all these women and I think its incredible, empowering and just beautiful. Wishing you and incredible journey afterwards cause you're absolutely greatness 💓💓💓
College is not just about education it’s also about building up social skills interacting on different levels and self esteem. This appears to be a beautiful team building experience in all aspects 💕 At the age of 45, not going to college is my only regret 😢
I never believe in regrets and am more than happy being a spectator but if I could turn back the clock, I would have done so only if Miss Val was a coach or dance teacher. I am 3000 miles away and how to view college gymnastics has increased tremendously in past years. I have become a fan and it feels strange to be one of those fighting back tears. Miss Val you are a special lady! Don't be a stranger!!! From a Boston Bruins fan to a UCLA Bruins fan....Wicked Awesome!
Valorie Kondos é intensamente linda e generosa. Cercada de meninas e moças maravilhosas!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I love Katelyn, and I really hope their relationship is as good as shown in this video because that's what she deserves. She is absolutely adorable and a sweet human being. She's been through so much but persevered.
