Texline’s Raley Valdez wins national championship
Gold, silver medals complete comeback
By Autumn Smith
Special to the Dalhart Texan
For Raley Valdez, gymnastics has always been just one part of who she is. She is an athlete, competitor, daughter, teammate and someone who has never been afraid to take on a challenge. This summer, all of those qualities came together as she returned to the national stage and earned two medals at the 2026 Stars and Stripes Nationals in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Raley, the daughter of Talisha and Josh Valdez, has been involved in trampoline and tumbling for many years. She began her competitive journey with coaches Autum Smith and Russchelle Hanbury, where she became part of the Texas Tumbleweeds program.
Raley is also the last remaining athlete from the 2018 Texas Tumbleweeds era who is still competing, making her journey in the sport a special piece of local trampoline and tumbling history. This was the last team Autum Smith and Russchelle Hanbury coached together before Smith went to college.
After retiring from competition in 2022, Raley took some time away from the sport. But gymnastics wasn’t finished with her just yet.
When Raley decided to return, she began training again with Airbound Gymnastics under Autum and Aaron Smith. Her return wasn’t about simply picking up where she left off. She had to rebuild skills, confidence and competitive consistency while balancing everything else that fills her life.
And there is plenty that keeps Raley busy outside the gym.
She has a strong passion for rodeo and livestock, spending time showing animals and participating in 4-H. She also competes in basketball and track, showing that her competitive spirit extends far beyond trampoline and tumbling.
That versatility is part of what makes Raley such a unique athlete. Whether she is in the gym, on the track, on the basketball court or working with her animals, she brings the same determination and willingness to work hard.
Her return to trampoline and tumbling proved to be worth the effort.
At the 2026 Stars and Stripes Nationals, Raley competed in the Level 7, 15+ age division. She earned Gold in Trampoline, becoming a National Champion, and followed it up with a Silver medal in Tumbling.
Two national medals are an impressive accomplishment for any athlete. For Raley, they represent something even bigger: the payoff of choosing to come back after walking away from competition several years earlier.
Throughout her journey, Raley has also maintained strong relationships with the coaches who have supported her. Having coaches who knew her before her retirement and were there when she decided to return gave her a familiar foundation as she stepped back into competition.
But ultimately, the decision to return, and the work required to get back to the national level, belonged to Raley.
Her story is a reminder that there is no single path to success. An athlete can step away, explore other passions, grow in different ways and still find their way back to the sport they love.
For Raley, that road led all the way back to the national podium.
Raley Valdez has created an incredible story of perseverance, versatility and determination. And with her love of athletics and so many adventures still ahead of her, this chapter is certainly not the last.
Congratulations, Raley, on an incredible comeback and an unforgettable Nationals! Airbound Gymnastics is so proud of you!
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