with over 100 million views.

“Amazing routine!” “Best performer in the country!”

Along with this came a lot of attention and opportunities.

But I couldn't capitalize on them.

“One of the biggest stars in collegiate gymnastics …”

“Katelyn Ohashi …”

I was handcuffed by the N.C.A.A. rules that prevented me

from deriving any benefit from my own name and likeness

regardless of the fact that after my final

meet I had no pro league to join.

The N.C.A.A. is a billion- dollar industry

built on the backs of college athletes.

How different would things be for me

had I been able to use my image

and name my last year of school

in order to promote the things that I

want to further my future?

I want to make sure that the next person doesn't

have to wonder.

“And now there's some big news in California”

“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed ... "

"... their 'Fair Pay to Play' bill." "It allows college athletes to be

paid for their name, their image and their likeness."

"It's going to set up this huge showdown

between the State of California

and the N.C.A.A."

"The N.C.A.A. will likely challenge this in court."

The “Fair Pay to Play Act” is not

about paying salaries to college athletes.

It's about empowering student athletes to rightfully earn

off their individual name and likeness without sacrificing

the opportunity to get an education.

It's about making sure if a student-athlete's

jersey is still selling in the bookstore

10 years after graduation, that they get a cut.

It's about recognizing that women only

receive 4 percent of all coverage in sports media,

and giving us the freedom to leverage sponsored deals

to break through.

It's about treating student athletes

with the same respect as any other student who can freely

profit off their talent as writers,

artists, D.J.s, programmers or scientists

while in college.

Critics say that allowing student athletes

to earn endorsement income will

come at the expense of Title IX or nonrevenue-generating sports.

But from experience, allowing an athlete, especially

women or Olympic sport athletes who, for the most part

are staying and graduating

from N.C.A.A. institutions, to take advantage

of unexpected moments like I had, empowers us to help

finally earn what we deserve.