Every year American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) presents the distinguished AAI Award to the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the country. 

The AAI Award is considered the Heisman Trophy for Women’s gymnastics. Each year, the head coaches submit a nomination for their choice candidates. This year 30 extraordinary athletes were nominated! Below is a video of the 2021 nominees. 

Each year American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) presents the prestigious AAI Award to the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the country. Check out the video below to see who is part of the 2021 nominees. #aaiaward pic.twitter.com/QIwf68i6AT

— American Athletic (@AAIequipment) February 22, 2021

Earlier this week, the AAI Awards announced six finalists. Past winners include Oklahoma’s Maggie Nichols in 2020, LSU’s Sarah Finnegan in 2019, Stanford’s Elizabeth Price in 2018, Georgia’s Courtney Kupets in 2009, and UCLA’s Mohini Bhardwaj in 2001.

Here are the 2021 AAI Award Finalists!

Alyssa Baumann | Florida

Alyssa Baumann is known for her flawless form and execution, and she has a long list of accolades from Florida. She is a five-time All-American (1 NCAA / 4 WCGA Regular Season) and the 2018 and 2019 All-SEC. She’s also the 2018 & 2019 SEC balance beam champion.

This season Baumann is No. 14 in the nation on beam and No. 6 on floor.

Since her elite days, Baumann has been known for her enchanting beauty on the beam. 

Watch her precise signature arm movements on the beam, as well as her over 180-degree splits. 

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Lynnzee Brown | Denver

Lynnzee Brown's floor exercise is often considered the gold standard in the event.

This season she’s been the Big 12 Gymnast of the Week for the weeks of February 8, March 1, and March 8

 Like Denver Gymnastics said, “She's ranked No. 2 in the country for a reason.” 

Not one, not two, but three-straight near-perfect 9.975s for Lynnzee Brown on floor!

She's ranked No. 2 in the country for a reason.#PioneerTogether | #GoPios pic.twitter.com/PmAOcFsbrC

— Denver Gymnastics (@DU_Gymnastics) March 12, 2021

This season Brown is No. 20 in the nation on beam, No. 3 on bars, tied for No. 19 on vault, No. 2 on floor, and No. 3 overall in the all-around!

Watch Brown’s tumbling at last year’s Metroplex challenge. Don’t miss her exquisite DLO in her first-floor pass!

Nia Dennis | UCLA

Unless you’re living off the grid, you’ve probably seen Nia Dennis’s viral floor routine. Dancing to music soundtracked by Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, and others, she dazzled in her floor routine that had 11.3 million views. 

By the way, this isn’t the first time she shattered the internet— she garnered 3.8 million views in 2020 to a routine that paid homage to Beyoncé's Homecoming documentary and Black culture. 

Warning: you’ll want to replay this over and over.   

This is what #blackexcellence looks like. @DennisNia does it again! 🔥

📹 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/2vxgyTvUCG

— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) January 24, 2021

Kyana George | California

While George has always been a standout, she has indeed come into her own in 2021. Her outstanding individual performances led the Bears to victory last weekend against Oregon State University. George matched a career-high in the all-around, totaling a 39.650, the country’s fifth-highest score this year. 

It get's even better!@kageorge98 throws down a career-high 9.975! pic.twitter.com/1pIr6nLmfq

— Cal Gymnastics (@CalWGym) March 14, 2021

George’s career highlights include the 2020 WCGA Regular-Season Second Team All-American (All-Around) and the 2020 All-Pac-12 First Team All-Around, Vault; Honorable Mention Balance Beam.

 In 2020, she was a three-time Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 14, Feb. 4, Feb. 12, 2020)

This season George is No. 15 on floor and No. 18 overall in the all-around!

Lexy Ramler |

Lexy Ramler was named the 2018 B1G Freshman of the Year and since she’s lived up to the hype. 

*INSERT LOUD NOISES*

.@LexyRamler just scored a perfect 10 on beam!!

She is only the third #Gopher in program history to score a perfect 10 on this event! pic.twitter.com/w1w2YQowzw

— Minnesota Women’s Gym (@GopherWGym) January 18, 2020

From her beautiful lines and extension to her perfect execution, she has been consistently stunning as an all arounder. 

Ramler is the 2019 NCAA co-Runner-Up in the All-Around (39.6625) and on the Uneven Bars (9.9375), landing the highest individual finish of any Gopher since 1990. 

After a career-high all-around 39.725 vs. Maryland, she became the highest-scoring all-around gymnast in Gopher history.

In January 2020, she scored back-to-back 10s on the balance beam. She ended the 2020 season ranked No. 1 nationwide and in the Big Ten on beam, ranked No. 6 on bars and No. 8 in the all-around nationally. 

This season Ramler is tied for No. 1 in the nation on beam, No. 2 on bars, tied for No. 4 on vault, No. 23 on floor, and No. 2 overall in the all-around!

Here’s a look at her most recent 10, last weekend.

Another look at @LexyRamler's perfect 🔟! pic.twitter.com/Uqo2EwGBS4

— Minnesota Women’s Gym (@GopherWGym) March 14, 2021

Anastasia Webb | Oklahoma 

There’s a reason why Oklahoma recently tied Florida for number one in the nation, and Anastasia Webb is a huge part!. 

In 2020, she finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation on vault and No. 5 in the all-around. She competed in the all-around in all 11 meets for the Sooners. She earned a season-best 39.650 in the all-around on five occasions.

What doesn’t get talked about enough is that Webb took over the beam anchor role from Maggie Nichols, one of the top collegiate gymnasts of all-time. She has confidently and seamlessly taken on the role. The first time anchoring, Webb scored 9.950, the highest of the day in any event. 

This season Webb is No. 3 in the nation on beam, No. 14 on bars, tied for No. 2 on vault, No. 6 on floor, and No. 4 overall in the all-around!

Who can forget the perfect 10 vault at this year’s Metroplex Challenge?