‘It Keeps Calling Me Back’: Michael Jaroh Continues To Balance Gymnastics With Social Media Fame & Faith
Penn State men’s gymnast and social media influencer Michael Jaroh has always been flipping — off the vault, on the high bar, and even through people’s phone screens.
Jaroh, a fifth-year majoring in media studies, has turned his athletic talent into a viral presence, building a social media following that stretches far beyond the gym. With millions of likes and a growing fanbase, Jaroh is balancing two high-pressure arenas: NCAA competition and the ever-scrolling world of social media.
With over 200,000 followers on Instagram and nearly two million on TikTok, the fifth-year gymnast has built a name for himself that goes beyond the sport. With two All-America honors, three first-team All-Big Ten selections, and a Big Ten high bar championship to his name, he’s proven himself to be a valuable asset to his team throughout the last five years.
At the same time, he’s also managed to grow a digital presence that showcases not just his physical talent, but the mental and emotional journey behind it.
“There were times even when I was growing and I wasn’t being authentic,” he shared. “But because I was growing, I wasn’t being authentic. It’s growing this false version, false idea of myself that was just making me more and more and more insecure.”
That realization reshaped everything. Rather than stepping away from content creation, he chose to realign it with his core values. Jaroh started posting with more intention and more honesty.
His feed now blends behind-the-scenes training clips, open reflections on fear and failure, messages rooted in Christianity, and glimpses of the grit it takes to be both a college athlete and a public figure. That mix has earned him not just fans, but genuine support from followers who connect with more than just his skills.
Before Penn State, Jaroh was already a standout. The Michigan native spent 11 years training with the Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy and claimed a national title on rings in 2018. Given that his father and grandpa both competed in gymnastics — it was a legacy.
From a young age, Jaroh knew what it meant to work for success, but also what it meant to fall short. He faced major setbacks before ever stepping foot on Penn State’s campus, including concussions that would later multiply throughout his college career.
Joining the Nittany Lions not only allowed Jaroh to take his gymnastics career to the next level, but it also allowed him to become a leader. Through his team, he’s been able to make a meaningful impact both on and off the mats.
“It’s a really loving team that we have,” he said. “My coach always said in the beginning that the goal is to leave a culture of betterment that leaves a culture of betterment. So, come into the program and make it better, so that it makes itself better. And I think my class has done a great job of that.”
His collegiate record speaks for itself. In his final season alone, he won the pommel horse at the Navy Open, claimed first place on vault with a 14.500 against Ohio State, and capped his career with a Big Ten title on high bar, notching a personal best of 14.325.
Over the years, Jaroh faced many hurdles, including eight concussions. But that didn’t stop him from sticking with his passion.
“I think at first, after my seventh concussion, I was terrified of a few things in gymnastics,” Jaroh said. “And then eventually I kind of realized whatever’s gonna happen is gonna happen.”
Instead of trying to control every outcome, Jaroh began to trust the process, the preparation, and something larger than himself.
“I think that’s like the key to social media, really just being authentic,” Jaroh said. “If you’re authentic and you grow in that, the confidence from that is next level.”
That confidence carried him through five years of all-around competition at Penn State, where he not only battled through injuries but redefined his approach to performance. Each season brought new highlights — a career-best 14.700 on pommel horse in 2024, a breakout 81.432 all-around finish at NCAAs in 2022, and consistent top-three placements across nearly every apparatus. But more importantly, each season brought a clearer understanding of what gymnastics meant to him, not just as a sport, but as a calling.
“Some part of me just hasn’t been able to let go of gymnastics yet,” Jaroh said. “Even if I do, it feels like it keeps coming back to me. So I just don’t think my career is over yet.”
Though his NCAA eligibility is coming to a close, Jaroh isn’t walking away. In fact, he’s aiming higher, as he will continue his training post-graduation with hopes of representing Team USA on the world stage in the 2028 Olympics.
“Some part of me just hasn’t been able to let go of gymnastics yet, and even if I do, it feels like it keeps coming back to me,” Jaroh said. “I just don’t think my career is over yet. And, hopefully, before it’s over, I have an Olympic gold medal.”
Throughout his college journey, Jaroh has grown more into himself, becoming more proud of his decisions, his beliefs, and his faith. That faith has become the foundation not only of his gymnastics but of his content, too.
“I think that’s like my purpose from here on out, to really spread the gospel and just do that the best I can with the most truth I can, and understanding that my opinion is probably wrong and my understanding a lot of times is probably very flawed. But if I’m just trying to come to the conclusion of truth, rather than prove myself right, then I’ll be OK,” Jaroh said.
Although Jaroh will be starting a new chapter with graduation approaching, gymnastics is and will always be a prominent part of his life.
“Gymnastics is a sport where you’re putting your life at risk, and you never know what’s gonna happen,” he said. “But somehow, it keeps calling me back… I will forever have been a Penn State gymnast, that you can never take away from me. That was always a part of my story…Stepping into what’s next is kind of almost the thing that’s keeping me present now.”
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