Athletics

One Final Salute

N Our Voice by Yanni Chronopoulos

One Final SaluteHope Shortridge

This weekend, I’ll salute the judges one last time.

My final routine. 

My final bow.

But before I get there, I want to take a moment to reflect on how it all began.

Six years later, I’m still here—and grateful for every moment.

 

 

The Gym Next Door

My family owns a restaurant, and right next to it was a gym.

I was a high-energy kid. 

Always moving. 

Always bouncing off the walls. 

So my parents enrolled me in a few summer classes at the gym next door — mostly to burn off some energy.

At first, it was just for fun, of course.

I became close friends with the owner's son, and going to the gym was mostly an excuse to hang out. 

But over time, that started to shift. 

I wasn’t just there to see my friend anymore. I genuinely liked what I was doing.

Eventually, I joined competitive classes — and the rest is history.

 

Flying the Flag

One of the biggest milestones of my career came when I was selected to represent Canada on the Junior National Team and compete at the Junior World Championships.

What made it special wasn’t just wearing the flag — it was sharing that moment with guys I had grown up training with. 

We’d been pushing each other for years, and to all reach that level together? 

That was powerful.

It gave me a glimpse of what was possible. 

And it made me want more.

 

Finding Nebraska

When I started thinking about college gymnastics, I kept hearing the same name: Nebraska.

Former teammates like Jonathan Scripnick came back from school with incredible stories. 

Then I met Coach John Robinson at a Team Canada camp and heard more great things. 

It all started lining up.

I took a recruiting trip, and within hours, I knew. 

The coaches. 

The culture. 

The team. 

The fit. 

It was everything I wanted.

The academics mattered too. 

I’ll be honest — I wasn’t the most motivated student in high school. 

But once I got to Nebraska, I realized I needed to step it up. 

Being named a three-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll recipient is something I take a lot of pride in. 

It’s a reminder that I’ve grown in every area here, not just as an athlete.

M Gym vs Ohio State-SS 1249Yanni Chronopoulos Men’s Gymnastics vs Ohio State

Leading From the Front

Now in my final year here as a senior, I tried to lead differently.

In the past, I led by example. 

Head down. 

Work hard. 

Let the results speak for themselves.

But after traveling to Paris as an alternate for Team Canada at the Olympics, I came back with a new mindset.

I’ve been more vocal. 

Sharing insights, breaking down routines, talking through mental approaches. I’ve tried to build up our team’s belief in what’s possible — because this group has what it takes.

And I believe that change in mindset has also helped me with my own performances.

Over the years, I’ve competed in every event.

Rings has always been a different beast, though.

It’s strength, precision, and nerves all rolled into one. 

Some days in training, you feel off. 

But on meet day, you have to lock in and trust that you’ve done the work.

That’s what made winning the Big Ten Championship in rings just a few weeks ago so special. 

It wasn’t just a clean routine — it was sticking the landing in both qualifications and finals. 

That’s the part that stays with the judges. 

And for me, it meant years of hard work and inconsistency had finally clicked.

After everything I’ve put into the event — the setbacks, the near misses — that moment meant everything.

MGYM vs Michigan-SS 2463Taylor Christopulos Travis Wong Joey Pepe A.J. Morgan Chris Hiser James Friedman Zac Tiderman Yanni Chronopoulos Men’s Gymnastics vs Michigan

The Final Meet

And now, this is it.

My last event in a Husker uniform.

The NCAA Championships. 

In the past, we were hoping to make the second day. 

This year, we expect it.

We’ve been consistent all season — not just in competition, but in how we train, how we recover, how we prepare. 

And when we’re at our best, we’re hard to beat.

That belief is real now. 

This team is hungry. 

And we know what’s at stake.

For me, it’s bittersweet. 

I’m not thinking about it as my last meet — not yet. 

I’ve got a job to do. 

When it’s done, I’ll look back and let it hit me.

But no matter what happens, I know I can take my final salute knowing I gave this everything I had.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Gymnastics has taught me a lot. 

But above all, it’s taught me to love the process.

The long practices. 

The little injuries. 

The routines that go wrong. 

It’s all part of it. 

This sport throws you curveballs constantly — but I’ve learned to find joy in bouncing back.

If I could give any advice to aspiring gymnasts, it’d be this: make the sacrifices. 

Stick to the routine. 

Eat right. 

Rest. 

Train smart. 

Even when it’s not fun. 

Especially when it’s not fun.

That’s where progress lives.

I attribute a lot of the success throughout my journey to that mindset.

Sure, it took me a while to embrace it, but it lead me to a Big Ten title and to representing Canada on the world stage — not a whole lot more you can ask.

When it’s all said and done, I plan to continue training with the Canadian National Team. 

The 2028 Olympics are the long-term goal, but I’m taking it year by year — staying grounded, staying hungry.

No matter where gymnastics takes me, I’ll always carry Nebraska with me. 

This program shaped me in every way. 

I’ll be cheering for the next wave of Huskers, showing up when I can, and giving back however possible.

And to the Nebraska fans — thank you. 

You've shown up through every high and low, and your support has meant more than you know. Seeing familiar faces in the crowd, knowing people have been following my journey for five years — that’s the kind of thing you never forget.

It’s been an incredible ride.

Now it’s time to finish strong.

Let’s go get that championship.

MGYM vs Michigan-HS 1925Yanni Chronopoulos MGYM vs Michigan