Danie Ferris returns to elite competition at the Paris World Challenge Cup this weekend. [Photo: Hannah White]
Paris Next Stop for Danie Ferris
Monday, September 21, 2026 | Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — From Gainesville to Paris, Danie Ferris is taking her gymnastics international.
Florida's rising senior heads to the City of Light this week to compete for Morocco at the Paris World Challenge Cup, Sept. 26-27 at Accor Arena.
Ferris in Paris? It has a nice ring to it.
The trip marks Ferris' second international elite competition after making her debut last month at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy. Ferris represents Morocco, her mother's home country.
Her first taste of elite competition brought plenty of lessons - including a few learned on the fly.
"I think just everything was a learning experience, kind of adapting to that new environment of elite, which is definitely different from college," Ferris said. "It was a lot to embrace and take in, like rules and aspects that I didn't know before. Had to learn some of them the hard way, but we learned.
"I feel it was really helpful to kind of just dip my foot in the water and get a little idea of what I'm doing. Overall, it was just a great learning experience."
Now Ferris gets another chance to add to that international experience - and she's keeping the approach simple.
"I just want to go out there and be normal and have fun," Ferris said. "Not put too much pressure on myself and just use this as another opportunity to learn and grow."
Bonjour, Burde
Joining Ferris in Paris is Florida associate head coach Adrian Burde, who has another challenge on his hands: dusting off the French he spoke while living in France for four years.
More importantly, Burde likes what he has seen from Ferris in the gym.
"It's been two weeks of very good training for Danie," Burde said. "We started training a second vault because her one and a half is one of the best in the world. So the Moroccan Federation asked her if she could start training a second vault, and we're starting that.
"It's not going to be ready this weekend, but we're hoping by next year, she's going to have a second vault. That way, she will have much better chance to maybe compete in the vault final."
That second vault is a Tsuk full and could eventually give Ferris the two different vaults needed to pursue that apparatus final.
Ferris already brings plenty of power to the international stage. The vault All-American owns a collegiate perfect 10.0 on the event and has posted a career-best 9.925 on floor exercise three times.
Her move into elite gymnastics adds another chapter to an already accomplished Florida career. She has stepped beyond NCAA competition, returned to the all-around and now represents Morocco on the international stage.
Next stop for Ferris? Paris.
Sept. 27 — Apparatus Finals
Vault, uneven bars — 8:10 a.m. ET
Balance beam, floor exercise — 11 a.m. ET
2026 FIG Paris World Challenge Cup
Florida's rising senior heads to the City of Light this week to compete for Morocco at the Paris World Challenge Cup, Sept. 26-27 at Accor Arena.
Ferris in Paris? It has a nice ring to it.
The trip marks Ferris' second international elite competition after making her debut last month at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy. Ferris represents Morocco, her mother's home country.
Her first taste of elite competition brought plenty of lessons - including a few learned on the fly.
"I think just everything was a learning experience, kind of adapting to that new environment of elite, which is definitely different from college," Ferris said. "It was a lot to embrace and take in, like rules and aspects that I didn't know before. Had to learn some of them the hard way, but we learned.
"I feel it was really helpful to kind of just dip my foot in the water and get a little idea of what I'm doing. Overall, it was just a great learning experience."
Now Ferris gets another chance to add to that international experience - and she's keeping the approach simple.
"I just want to go out there and be normal and have fun," Ferris said. "Not put too much pressure on myself and just use this as another opportunity to learn and grow."
Bonjour, Burde
Joining Ferris in Paris is Florida associate head coach Adrian Burde, who has another challenge on his hands: dusting off the French he spoke while living in France for four years.
More importantly, Burde likes what he has seen from Ferris in the gym.
"It's been two weeks of very good training for Danie," Burde said. "We started training a second vault because her one and a half is one of the best in the world. So the Moroccan Federation asked her if she could start training a second vault, and we're starting that.
"It's not going to be ready this weekend, but we're hoping by next year, she's going to have a second vault. That way, she will have much better chance to maybe compete in the vault final."
That second vault is a Tsuk full and could eventually give Ferris the two different vaults needed to pursue that apparatus final.
Ferris already brings plenty of power to the international stage. The vault All-American owns a collegiate perfect 10.0 on the event and has posted a career-best 9.925 on floor exercise three times.
Her move into elite gymnastics adds another chapter to an already accomplished Florida career. She has stepped beyond NCAA competition, returned to the all-around and now represents Morocco on the international stage.
Next stop for Ferris? Paris.
Paris World Challenge Cup Schedule
Sept. 26 — QualificationSept. 27 — Apparatus Finals
Vault, uneven bars — 8:10 a.m. ET
Balance beam, floor exercise — 11 a.m. ET
2026 FIG Paris World Challenge Cup
Players Mentioned
AA
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