Chesney Bennett: Kentucky’s Tiny-but-Mighty Gymnast to Watch
At just 5-foot-3, Chesney Bennett may not be the biggest gymnast in the Kentucky lineup — but she certainly knows how to make a big impression.
The Charleston, South Carolina, native arrived in Lexington with an impressive résumé, including nine South Carolina State titles, 2024 Region 8 beam and all-around championships, and a 2022 national championship on floor.
And her competitive streak runs deep. Her former coach, Valerie Snow, once described Chesney as the gymnast who, if asked to do 10, wanted to do 14 — and after doing 14, wanted to do 20. Yep, that sounds like someone who was always going to fit right in at Kentucky.
Making Her Mark in Lexington
Bennett joined the Wildcats in 2025 and quickly established herself on balance beam, posting two 9.900s during her freshman season.
Then came 2026, when she expanded her role to include bars and floor. Against Missouri, she earned her first collegiate event title, matching her career-high 9.900 on beam.
She wasn’t finished there. Bennett earned her first All-SEC selection after scoring 9.850 on bars at the SEC Championships. Her career-best scores now include a 9.850 on bars, 9.900 on beam and 9.900 on floor.
That’s a pretty handy gymnast to have around.
Off the competition floor, Chesney is studying Sport Leadership and enjoys reading, cooking and singing. She’s also a huge Kobe Bryant fan and has a wall in her room dedicated to Kobe and other athletes she admires.
Oh, and her hidden talent? She can apparently make herself sound like a car alarm.
We’re not sure how useful that is during a beam routine, but it’s certainly one way to get people’s attention!
With her talent, personality and relentless work ethic, Bennett is quickly becoming one of the Wildcats worth keeping an eye on.
Small gymnast. Big skills. Big personality. And plenty more to come.
Leave a Reply