Bowling Green State University Athletics
British Duo Finds Home with BGSU Gymnastics
February 23, 2026 | Gymnastics
As college athletics recruiting continues to expand beyond U.S. borders, many student-athletes are embracing the chance to experience a new culture while adjusting to life in a new home.
BGSU gymnastics knows that journey well. Kiera Thornton and Teegan Milligan, both from the United Kingdom, have navigated the same mix of challenges and rewards that come with competing far from home.
"I would just say that the atmosphere is a bit different because it's a lot more intense back at home," Thornton said. "Whereas here, it's more fun, relaxed, and it's nice because we're a team."
Both Thornton and Milligan began their journeys in the cities of Leeds and Cambridge, respectively, where both excelled in their respective events. Since joining Bowling Green, the two British natives have had a fair share of comparisons about competing in two separate parts of the world.
"Just for gymnastics-wise, our routines are definitely shorter here than they are over there," Thornton said. "I feel like it's a step down in difficulty but a step up in execution."
Miligan also noted that scheduling for meets and events is drastically different compared to the states. Whether the case is for events, training, or everything in between.
"Another thing, I would say, is that we have competitions twice a year," Miligan said. "We would have a batch from like February to March, we'd do like three to four competitions, and then we would have the summer to upgrade and get new skills before we compete again in September."
When the two juniors were both making waves in their hometowns, it was time to take the step into the next level and compete at a collegiate level. A process that wasn't as easy as it sounds.
"I feel like we were one of the first few people that actually decided to take the chance to come over," Thornton said. "So we went on a website, almost as if it was shopping for us, and then former coach, Kerrie (Turner), found us through social media."
Milligan also agreed with the idea that getting attention from overseas is not as easy as it looks, attributing the help through different forms of media and agencies to help gain interest from schools.
"Nowadays, you can just do it through social media," Milligan added. "We would have to go on this agency, and we had to pay this group to basically put us on this web to get recruited to come here; we couldn't recruit by sending emails, and they weren't seeing us at competitions out here."Â
Since arriving in the U.S. and spending over a year and a half with the Falcons. The two Brits have embraced the American culture immensely. I even enjoy most of the pop culture on the side of competing each week.
"It's really fun being here," Thornton said, smiling. "Even like the music is so different out here. Like, it's more country music, whereas before our home would never listen to it."
Milligan agreed, even citing some famous country artists who have made their way to their homeland.
"It's becoming more popular now," Milligan said. "Like, people know who Morgan Wallen is."
When shifting back towards a serious note, Miligan and Thornton have had nothing but good things to say about the city of Bowling Green, saying that the small town is the main reason why they decided to join in on the Orange and Brown excitement.
"I feel like the fact that it actually was a small town was the reason why we came here in the first place," Thornton said. "It wasn't too overwhelming, and we loved the fact that the university was so much like the town; we feel really supported and like part of the community by going to BG."
Milligan also recalled the times sharing with close friends on how their new home felt like two separate worlds.
"It's funny because even speaking to people from home, they always ask, 'Where's Bowling Green?' I say it's in Ohio, and then they respond with, 'Where's Ohio?' Milligan said. "Overall, it's the people that make it here, and it's just quite a nice place to be, especially being international students."
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Players Mentioned
