Erin Cavanaugh, Auburn Athletics Communications Intern
AUBURN, Ala. - With the 2025 gymnastics season approaching, it is time to meet all the new faces joining the squad this year. The first one we will get to know is freshman Olivia Ahern!
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Club: Believe Gymnastics
Prior to Auburn: Five-time Development Program National Championship qualifier … Finished fourth on beam in 2022 and third on vault in 2021 at the national meet … Two-time Region 8 All-Around and Floor Champion … 2022 & 2024 Region 8 Beam Champion … 2024 Region 8 runner-up in the all-around and bars … 2020 Gymnix International Elite gold medalist on floor … Competed at the 2019 American Classic and U.S. Classic … Won bronze on vault at the 2018 Hopes Classic.
Q: How was the first semester of college? What has been the most significant adjustment?
A: “My first semester of college has been going well so far! I have really enjoyed Auburn and everyone on the team has been amazing at helping us freshmen get used to college life. The biggest adjustment for me was just getting used to a new and busy schedule. With classes, practice, rehab, treatment, tutoring, and strength training there is always a lot going on. At the beginning of the semester, it was difficult to manage my time and avoid feeling overwhelmed with the number of things happening each day, but after the first few weeks of class, I got used to the schedule and now it feels like second nature to me.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about your hometown? How does it compare to Auburn?
A: “My favorite thing about Memphis is all the fun activities that my family and I would do in the downtown area. We would go to concerts, NBA basketball games, and cool restaurants. Downtown Auburn has places that remind me of Memphis. For example, AW Schwab on Beale Street is an old fashion drugstore, similar to Toomer’s with candy, gifts, and milkshakes. Downtown Auburn is so pretty and lively and filled with great restaurants, making it feel like what I had at home.”
Q: What was your first visit to Auburn like? What about Auburn made you want to come here?
A: “The very first time I visited Auburn I was 12 years old and attended a fall gymnastics clinic. I remember having so much fun riding the golf cart around campus, being amazed at the McWhorter Center, and enjoying getting to know the coaches better. After that clinic, I continued to come to gymnastics camps every summer. I always remember feeling so welcome on campus and the impression the atmosphere of Auburn had on me. When getting to know the coaches and girls on the team better, I could tell they had a drive to succeed and win but also had a good balance of energy, intensity, and fun. The coaching philosophy and approach to practice that Jeff, Sara, Kurt, and Brooke brought was a huge factor that made me choose Auburn over any other school.”
Q: Who's your biggest role model, and why?
A: “Within gymnastics, my biggest role model growing up was always Shawn Johnson. She was such a powerful gymnast, and I admired how she was able to handle the pressures of the Olympics and fame at such a young age.”
Q: What or who keeps you motivated on the hard days?
A: “My mom always helps keep me motivated on hard days. Growing up, she set an amazing example of what hard work and dedication should look like. She invested so much time and money into supporting me and now, especially during the hard days, knowing I am supported no matter what, helps me stay the course. My past accomplishments and struggles also help motivate me. I have trained for about twelve years and have worked so hard to get where I am today. Knowing how much I have invested of myself in this sport pushes me to want to get better for the team and for myself.”
Q: What Auburn traditions are your favorite and why?
A: “One tradition I love to watch is the eagle flight at the Auburn football games. Watching a live eagle soar around the stadium is so cool to me and I just love the energy that is created once the eagle lands. Another thing I love to be a part of is all the different Auburn cheers. My personal favorite has to be ‘Bodda Getta!’”
Q: What's your favorite home cooked meal?
A: “My favorite home cooked meal is anything my dad grills outside. He would always grill, whether that meant pork loin, steak, shrimp, chicken, etc. Really anything we wanted for dinner that night, he would grill for us.”
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of gymnastics?
A: “Outside of gymnastics, I love to cook and bake for other people. I also love to read, listen to podcasts, or go for a walk with my dogs.”
Q: What is your major? Why did you choose it?
A: “My major is exercise performance and health optimization. I chose this major because science, sports, fitness, and movement have always been interesting to me. I love learning about movement in general, but specifically how sports movement/performance works and how it can be improved.”
Q: Do you have any gymnastics superstitions and why?
A: “I used to have a lot of superstitions like what meal I ate the night before a meet or how my mom had to braid my hair, but as time went on, I stopped caring about them. I stopped believing in a lot of superstitions because they stopped “working” for me. In my mind, it didn’t matter anymore if I did the superstitions because it was a 50/50 chance if it would work or not.”
Q: If you could eliminate one event, which one would you choose and why?
A: “If I could eliminate any event, I would eliminate vault because it is very repetitive and there’s only so much that you can train on vault. I love to compete vault, but in training it can get boring compared to the other events.”