The Gators host No. 1-ranked Oklahoma on Friday night, and junior Alyssa Arana will be smiling for more reasons than usual during the annual Link to Pink meet. (Photo: Madi Gemma/UAA Communications)
Smile for Something Bigger: Alyssa Arana's Personal Link to Pink
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — "I'm doing this for her with the biggest smile on my face," said Florida gymnast Alyssa Arana, thinking of her aunt.
Arana's aunt, who cheered Arana on through each level of her gymnastics career, is a breast cancer survivor who never let the disease steal her joy. For Arana, Florida's Link to Pink meet on Friday night is about much more than gymnastics or the matchup against No. 1-ranked Oklahoma.
It's about honoring the resilience, positivity and energy her aunt maintained throughout treatment.
Junior Alyssa Arana carries a deep personal connection into Florida's Link to Pink meet on Friday night. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
Now in its 20th year, the Link to Pink competition has grown into one of the most anticipated meets of the season. For one night, the Gators will set aside their traditional orange and blue to compete in pink leotards in support of breast cancer awareness. Survivors and fighters will be recognized inside Exactech Arena, and with thousands of supporters in attendance and many more watching on television, the event transforms into something larger than a gymnastics competition.
"It's always a memorable evening,'' Gators coach Jenny Rowland said. "Seeing all the survivors that come and support, and their families. It's an honor, a privilege, that our sport can use such a grand platform to show support and share awareness for a lot of people that come in person and watch it on TV."
The annual event has become a staple in the program, drawing one of the largest crowds of the season.
A junior from Miami, Arana was informed early during her freshman year at UF that her aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her aunt has since been through treatment and is now in remission.
What stands out most to Arana about her aunt's recovery is the way she carried herself throughout the journey. Cancer treatment can take an emotional and physical toll, consuming much of a person's identity, but her aunt kept her spirits high and sense of self intact throughout the process.
"She always had a smile on her face," Arana said this week as the Gators prepared to face the Sooners.
Even during treatment, Arana's aunt continued dancing and posting videos to Instagram. Rather than allowing her diagnosis to define her, she chose to approach each day with energy and positivity, Arana said.
Watching her aunt's example left a lasting impact.
Arana explained that seeing her aunt maintain joy during treatment reshaped how she views challenges. Competing in Link to Pink is not just about performance for her; it is about reflecting that same resilience. Wearing pink serves as a reminder to stay positive and never stop dancing.
Arana's collegiate journey has included its own challenges. After struggling in her collegiate debut on the uneven bars as a freshman, Arana's confidence took a hit. She did not compete the rest of her freshman season as she worked to regain her footing. The challenge was not her skill set but a lack of self-belief, which she rebuilt through hard work and a commitment to the mental side of the sport.
She has since returned and was named an All-American on the uneven bars for her sophomore season. This season, she has been a steady presence in the balance beam lineup and has said she is more confident than ever. Just as her aunt refused to let cancer define her, Arana refused to let one setback define her gymnastics career. Both have had to fight their way back, just in different arenas.
Alyssa Arana overcame a shaky start to her collegiate career to earn All-American honors. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
Arana explained that the atmosphere of the Link to Pink meet feels different from a typical home competition, referencing the added emotions for those with personal connections, such as herself. Competing for something so huge that affects so many "gives us all goosebumps," she said, adding that it is amazing to use her platform to support a cause near and dear to her heart.
Rowland echoed that sentiment, describing the meet as an opportunity to bring awareness to something "bigger than us." For her and the team, Link to Pink is about using the visibility of college gymnastics to raise as much awareness for breast cancer as possible.
While Link to Pink can be emotional for athletes with personal connections to breast cancer, Arana described her mindset as one rooted in gratitude rather than sadness. Competing with a smile, she said, is her way of honoring her aunt's example.
As Florida attempts to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Missouri, the competitive stakes are clear in the standings. Still, each routine from the Gators will be dedicated to breast cancer awareness and support.
And when Arana mounts the less-than-four-inch-wide balance beam, the focus will remain on execution and composure. But the motivation behind it will be personal. Link to Pink is about awareness and recognition.
The smile she plans to wear is intentional and a reflection of the woman who survived breast cancer. Arana's smile will carry meaning far beyond the routine.
