Crimson Connection

PMS 201.

That's the Pantone color of two of the most well-known brands in college athletics: The Oklahoma Sooners and The Alabama Crimson Tide.

For the Pawlak sisters, that iconic crimson is the one thing that keeps them connected while 700 miles apart.

Kamila is currently in her freshman season as a member of the Oklahoma gymnastics team. Her older sister, Natalia, is a senior competing for the gymnastics team at Alabama. Though at different schools, each time they take to the competition floor, they share the color of their leotards, a small but meaningful connection that ties their journeys together.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Gymnastics has been a part of the Pawlak sisters' lives for as long as either can remember. Growing up in Melissa, Texas, the pair were immersed in the sport from an early age. What started as time spent together quickly became a shared family experience, woven into their everyday lives.

"We would have family handstand contests in the living room and somehow my mom would beat us both," Natalia said. "If Kamila was at my meets one weekend, I was at one of hers the next weekend. And bless my dad's heart – he knows nothing about gymnastics, so he was just along for the ride the whole time. I feel like we really did grow closer as a family. It was one thing we could all share and talk about."

Though three years older, gymnastics was never a solo experience for Natalia. As she moved through the early levels of the sport, Kamila was always close by, following in her footsteps almost as soon as Natalia made them.

"I feel like there wasn't ever really a time that it was just me," Natalia said. "By the time I was competing at a compulsory level, I could see her in the back gym, in the preschool gym. I would glance over and she's doing back tucks on the trampoline, and she was probably four years old. I don't think there's ever a time that I remember it being just me."

For Kamila, Natalia's journey set the standard. Every new step her sister took only fueled Kamila's excitement to be right there alongside her.

"I remember when I was like 6 years old and she started Saturday practices, I was so jealous," Kamila shared. "My dad would bring me into the gym sometimes so I could watch her and I couldn't wait to join her and start Saturday practices with her."

Practices became a family affair as the sisters got older and began to be coached by their mother, Anna.

"She started coaching me when I was a level 7," Kamila said. "It was kind of hard when I was younger to balance her being my mom and my coach, but as I got older, I learned she's doing it because she loves me and everything. When I got older, I got to enjoy everything with her by my side."

As the sisters grew in their careers, Natalia was careful not set expectations for her younger sibling. Instead of setting a path for Kamila to follow, Natalia wanted her to find her own identity and make sure that she was doing gymnastics for the love of the sport, not just because of her older sister.

What Natalia may not have known was how much Kamila looked up to her. Inspired by her sister's work ethic, Kamila learned how to attack her own career.

"I'm a little bit more stressed out than she is," the younger Pawlak shared. "She taught me to take a deep breath during competitions and to have fun in those stressful moments. She taught me how to have fun in every situation and enjoy every moment and kind of learn to not take everything so seriously. I've truly grown so much from watching her through the sport."

While Kamila may claim she's the more anxious of the two sisters, Natalia has an overwhelming belief in her sister and what she can accomplish in her college career.

"Nothing about her really surprises me," Natalia shared. "I know her work ethic. I know how much she loves gymnastics. The year that she won the Nastia (Liukin Cup) and I was in the crowd watching her was probably the biggest moment. I was like, "Wow, this kid is going somewhere." I think that was the first moment I realized she was going to be amazing."

A SHARED JOURNEY

While the sisters are both members of the Southeastern Conference this season, the shared conference almost didn't happen.

Out of high school, Natalia originally committed to Pitt where she spent her freshman season. She set the Pitt program record on bars with a 9.95 and placed second on the apparatus at the 2023 EAGL Championships.

After that season, Natalia found herself in Tuscaloosa as a member of the Crimson Tide.

"I didn't in my life think I was going to end up in the SEC at all," Natalia shared. "To have her and I both end up in the same conference feels amazing. Knowing that I'll be able to see her at SECs and compete against her in Norman is so cool."
The No. 2 recruit in the nation coming out of high school, Kamila was courted by multiple schools – including Alabama. While getting to share the experience was something she considered, Kamila ultimately decided that she needed to forge her own path.

"I thought about what it would be like if we were together," Kamila shared. "I kind of wanted to have my own path while she had hers so we could experience gymnastics in our separate lives since we've been through everything together. It's kind of fun to have our little separate teams."

While the pair have embarked on different journeys, both sisters are excited about the opportunity to compete in the same venues when OU and Alabama face off in Norman and again at SEC Championships in Tulsa in late March.

"I think this is going to be one of the most special years we've had because we still get to compete with each other a little bit, but we have our own lives and our own team to support," Kamila said. "I wasn't able to watch her compete while I was in club. But getting this season together and being together when they come to OU and SECs, it'll be so much fun.

"I'm really excited because both of my parents will get to go and a lot of people from our home gym because we'll be at OU," Natalia shared. "I'm excited to hear her floor music and know that she's competing. I don't know if I'll be able to watch or not, but I hope so."

As for their parents, figuring out how to support two daughters who compete in the same conference, on the same nights, in cities all over the country has proven to be a task. However, the Pawlaks have made it work to ensure their daughters are both supported in such pivotal seasons.

"It's a lot of planning because on top of that, my mom coaches her own team," Natalia said. "She's kind of sacrificed that. She's like, "I'm not going to worry about their meets. I'm going to come to both of yours, as many as I can." Right now, it looks like they'll be splitting up. So, one parent will go to OU, and one parent will go to Bama. And then it'll kind of be based off if we're home or away, which meets they're going to go to. But they've been planning it for a long time."

When Kamila made her debut inside Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 23, both parents were there to support the freshman as she scored a career high 9.95 and won her first career event title on floor. The following week, the Pawlaks were in Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa to support Natalia.

This Friday, the whole family will be in Norman to support both girls. While figuring out the logistics of traveling to meets can be tough, figuring out how to support two gymnasts in the same meet may be more of a challenge.

"I feel like they've done a pretty good job," Natalia shared. "My mom is already having a half-and-half shirt made. As for SEC's, they haven't figured that out yet. I'm pretty sure my mom will probably wear her half-and-half shirt, and I think one parent will sit on the Alabama side and one parent will sit on the OU side and then they'll switch halfway.

"It's still a little bit of a work in progress, but I feel like they've had a good balance between the both of us," Kamila said. "They're trying to go to as much of they can of both and doing a great job. My mom already has a shirt that she's very excited to wear."

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

As the first month of the 2026 season comes to a close, the days of the Pawlak sisters sharing their time in college dwindles. But this is a year both sisters will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

"I feel like it makes it even more special to know that my last season is her first season," Natalia said. "It feels full circle because it feels like just yesterday I was a freshman, and now it's crazy to think that she's one. To have one year together, it's a perfect way to close out my career."

"I think it's something we'll remember forever," Kamila shared. "It's such a cool experience. I mean, not a lot of families have both daughters go to a D1 gymnastics school, especially in the SEC. I think it's a really cool experience for all of us."

With Kamila's college journey just beginning, Natalia has one piece of advice for the little girl who wanted to be just like her older sister.

"I hope she gets that the biggest things you take away from college gymnastics have absolutely nothing to do with gymnastics," Natalia shared. "I hope she learns that it's the experiences and the bonds you form with these people and the memories that you'll really take away and not a score or any sort of result. What she's going to remember most about these days has nothing to do with how many events she competed, what score she got. Just enjoy the moment, enjoy the people you're with because it goes by faster than you know."

As for the message from younger sister to older sister?

"I'm so proud of you and I can't wait to watch you finish up your senior year and enjoy every moment of it. And I just want you to know that I'm who I am today because of you and everything I've learned from you. Love you so much."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

A FAMILY AFFAIR

A SHARED JOURNEY

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

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