Over the weekend, gymnast Ben Letvin led his University of Minnesota team to another Eastern conference title in the run-up to GymACT league nationals. The collegiate athlete put up impressive scores on the floor and rings, but his high marks on the vault helped edge out the competition, securing him an all-around title to go with the Gophers’ fifth conference victory.
The weekend didn’t just mark a win for Letvin’s club teammates and personal trophy collection. The openly gay gymnast’s success is helping move the needle forward in a sport known for its rigid idea of what it means to be a top-tier male athlete.
Letvin joined Minnesota gymnastics, which is part of the league open to schools without NCAA programs, in 2023. Initially, he told Outsports in a 2025 interview that he was hesitant to open up to his teammates about his sexuality given the hyper-masculine environment fostered by the sport.
However, two other gay gymnasts, Jude Norris and Charlie Larson, gave him the confidence to stop worrying about fitting in and be himself.
Not long after, the three tightly bonded former teammates started collaborating on videos to promote the club on Instagram and, early on, it was clear they had found their niche.
Norris, who joined the Gopher staff after being burned out by competition, was initially behind the camera, but things really took off when he joined his teammates onscreen. Thus, “The Powerpuff Girls,” as the group calls themselves, were born.
Since 2024, the threesome, who took their name from the iconic animated supergirl trio, has specialized in videos demonstrating high-level stunts with lots of sass. Their collaboration has also taken on other forms, like a fashion-forward photo shoot, now that Larson has transferred to the University of Michigan.
It’s not just gymnastics fans tuning into their content, as everyone from general sports enthusiasts to followers of campy queer influencers finding something to enjoy in their out-and-proud acrobatics.
Letvin’s latest victory on the mat puts the spotlight back on the group and their efforts to bring much-needed visibility to queer athletes competing in elite men’s sports.
Whether he takes the podium at nationals next month or not, that already makes him an all-star in our book. Though, he will be hoping for a repeat of last year, when he took home the top prize for vault with a noteworthy 14.2.
