When you think of the Tomlin family, you might first think of football. After all, Mike Tomlin coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for nearly 20 years. But there’s another star in the family who’s making her own path in a completely different sport. Meet Harlyn Quinn Tomlin, known as “Harley” to her friends and fans. She’s a talented young gymnast who’s showing the world that success runs in the family, but everyone writes their own story.
At just 18 years old, Harley is already making big moves in college gymnastics. She joined the University of Georgia’s gymnastics team, one of the best programs in the country. Her journey from a young girl in Pittsburgh to a college athlete is inspiring and shows that hard work and passion can take you far.
Quick Bio
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harlyn Quinn Tomlin |
| Nickname | Harley |
| Birth Year | 2006 |
| Age | 18-19 years old (as of 2025) |
| Hometown | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Parents | Mike Tomlin (father), Kiya Winston (mother) |
| Siblings | Michael Dean Tomlin and Mason Tomlin (older brothers) |
| Sport | Gymnastics |
| Main Events | Balance Beam and Floor Exercise |
| College | University of Georgia |
| Team | Georgia GymDogs |
| High School | Shady Side Academy |
| Training Gym | Xquisite Gymnastics |
| @harlyntomlin |
Growing Up in a Sports Family
Harley was born in 2006 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She’s the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Mike and Kiya Tomlin. Her father became famous as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a job he held from 2007 until early 2025. Her mother, Kiya Winston, is a fashion designer who brings creativity and style to the family.
Growing up with two older brothers, Michael Dean (nicknamed “Dino”) and Mason, meant Harley was always around sports and competition. But instead of following her father into football, she found her own love in gymnastics.
What’s interesting is that gymnastics actually runs in the family through her mother’s side. Kiya Winston was a gymnast during her college years at The College of William & Mary in Virginia. That’s actually where she met Mike Tomlin. So when Harley started showing interest in gymnastics, her mother understood the sport from personal experience.
Even though her father is known for football, Mike Tomlin has always been Harley’s biggest fan. He once said she was “the best athlete in the house, no doubt!” That kind of support from family helped Harley believe in herself and chase her dreams.
Starting Her Gymnastics Journey
Harley didn’t just wake up one day as a great gymnast. Like all athletes, she started young and worked hard for many years. She began training at Xquisite Gymnastics in Pittsburgh, a gym known for developing talented young gymnasts.
From an early age, coaches saw something special in Harley. She had natural balance, strength, and the determination to keep trying even when things got tough. Gymnastics is not an easy sport. It requires hours of practice every week, early morning training, and the ability to handle pressure during competitions.
By the time she was a teenager, Harley was competing in regional competitions and winning awards. She became a two-time member of the Region 7 All-Star team. Even more impressive, she won the All-Around Champion title in both 2022 and 2023. The All-Around title means she competed in all four gymnastics events and scored the highest total among all competitors.
Harley also qualified for the USA Gymnastics Developmental Program Nationals three times. This is a big deal because it means she was among the best young gymnasts in the entire country. These achievements showed that Harley wasn’t just good at gymnastics – she was excellent.
Balancing School and Sports
Being a top gymnast while also being a student takes serious time management skills. Harley attended Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, where she had to balance tough classes with up to 20 hours of gymnastics practice each week.
Many young athletes struggle with this balance, but Harley managed both successfully. She learned how to organize her time, stay focused on her goals, and never give up even when things got hard. These skills would help her later when she moved to college.
Choosing the University of Georgia
In November 2023, Harley made one of the biggest decisions of her life. She signed with the University of Georgia to join their gymnastics team, the Georgia GymDogs. This wasn’t just any college gymnastics program – Georgia is known as one of the top teams in the entire country.
Getting a spot on the Georgia GymDogs is a huge accomplishment. Hundreds of talented gymnasts dream of joining this team, but only a few are chosen. Harley earned her place through years of hard work and consistent performances.
When she announced her decision, Harley said, “As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew that I wanted to spend my college career in Athens.” The coaches at Georgia saw not only her skills on the mat but also her positive attitude and work ethic. She was listed as a four-star recruit, which means scouts and experts rated her as one of the best young gymnasts in the country.
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College Gymnastics Career
Harley started competing for the Georgia GymDogs in the 2024-2025 season as a freshman. Her first year showed everyone that she belonged at this level. She competed on the balance beam, one of the most difficult and nerve-testing events in gymnastics.
In her very first college meet against Florida, Harley scored an impressive 9.850 on the beam. For anyone who doesn’t follow gymnastics, scores are out of 10, so getting close to 9.9 or 9.8 is really good. She competed four times on beam during her freshman year and kept a solid average score of 9.800.
Her hard work in the classroom also paid off. Harley was named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll, which shows she’s not just a great athlete but also a dedicated student.
Now in her second year (2025-2026 season), Harley is performing even better. In the season opener against Ohio State in January 2026, she scored a career-high 9.875 on beam and also made her first college floor exercise routine, scoring 9.825. These scores helped Georgia start their season strong with a big win.
One of the most special moments came on January 16, 2026, when Georgia hosted LSU at home. In front of a sold-out crowd, the GymDogs beat LSU with a score of 197.200 to 196.850. This was Georgia’s first win against LSU since 2016 – a historic moment for the team. Harley contributed with scores of 9.825 on both beam and floor exercise.
What made this meet even more special was that her father, Mike Tomlin, was there watching. Just days after retiring from coaching the Steelers, he was spotted in the crowd wearing a white Bulldogs sweatshirt, smiling and cheering for his daughter. It was his first public appearance after leaving the NFL, and he chose to spend it supporting Harley.
What Makes Harley Special
So what sets Harley apart from other gymnasts? Several things make her stand out:
Balance and Grace: Her performances on the balance beam show incredible focus and control. The beam is only four inches wide, and gymnasts must perform flips, turns, and jumps without falling off. Harley makes it look easy.
Mental Strength: Growing up with a father who coached in high-pressure NFL games taught Harley how to stay calm under pressure. She knows how to focus when it matters most.
Work Ethic: Harley doesn’t rely on natural talent alone. She works hard in every practice and never stops trying to improve.
Humility: Even though she comes from a famous family, Harley stays humble and lets her performances speak for themselves. She’s known for being a good teammate and having a positive attitude.
Balance in Life: Harley proves you can be successful in sports and school at the same time. Her spot on the Academic Honor Roll shows she takes her education seriously.
Life Beyond the Gym
When she’s not training or competing, Harley is a normal college student. She spends time with her teammates, who have become like a second family to her. The Georgia gymnastics team is known for its strong bond and supportive environment.
Harley stays connected with her fans through Instagram (@harlyntomlin), where she shares moments from her training, competitions, and personal life. She has a growing following of people who love watching her gymnastics journey.
Her family remains close despite the distance from Pittsburgh to Georgia. Her brothers support her from afar, and her parents attend meets when they can. The Tomlin family shows that even when everyone is busy with their own goals, staying connected and supporting each other is what matters most.
Looking to the Future
Harley’s gymnastics career is still just beginning. As she continues at Georgia, she has many goals ahead of her. She wants to improve her scores, compete in more events, and help her team win championships.
Beyond college, Harley has many paths she could take. She might continue in gymnastics professionally, become a coach to help young gymnasts like herself, or use her college degree to start a different career. Whatever she chooses, her strong character and work ethic will guide her.
One thing is certain: Harley Quinn Tomlin is making a name for herself that’s all her own. Yes, she’s Mike Tomlin’s daughter, but she’s also a talented athlete, dedicated student, and inspiring young woman who shows that with passion and hard work, you can achieve your dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Harlyn Quinn Tomlin?
Harlyn Quinn Tomlin, known as “Harley,” is a college gymnast who competes for the University of Georgia GymDogs. She’s also the daughter of former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and fashion designer Kiya Winston.
2. What events does Harley Tomlin compete in?
Harley mainly competes in balance beam and floor exercise for Georgia. She’s known for her strong and consistent performances, especially on the beam.
3. Where did Harley Tomlin train before college?
She trained at Xquisite Gymnastics in Pittsburgh and attended Shady Side Academy for high school while practicing up to 20 hours per week.
4. What are some of Harley’s biggest achievements?
She was a two-time Region 7 All-Star and won the All-Around Champion title in 2022 and 2023. She also qualified three times for USA Gymnastics Developmental Program Nationals and was named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll in college.
5. Does Harley come from a sports family?
Yes! Her father Mike Tomlin coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for nearly 20 years, and her mother Kiya Winston was a college gymnast. However, Harley is creating her own success story in gymnastics.
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