Freshman Jayla Booker has overcome an epilepsy diagnosis to find a home with the UF gymnastics team. (Photo: Madilyn Gemme/UAA Communications)
On Purple Day, Jayla Booker's Story Shines Bright
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jayla Booker is a fan of the color purple. In this case, we're not talking about the famous Steven Spielberg film or the 2023 reincarnation.
No, this is about old-fashioned purple, the one created by combining red and blue. She has purple clothes, accessories, and shoes.
And Purple Day – March 26 – has special meaning to Booker. The annual International Epilepsy Awareness Day is one that does not pass on the calendar without Booker noticing.
Booker, a freshman gymnast for the Gators, was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 14.
At first, the otherwise healthy Booker and her parents had no idea what was going on. Neither did doctors after the first few epileptic seizures and hospital stays.
"I still had seizures two to three times a month, and every time I had a seizure, it was a step back in gymnastics,'' said Booker, who was 14 at the time.
The seizures threatened to derail Booker's promising gymnastics career, a path she started when she was 5. Once doctors diagnosed Booker had epilepsy, she put gymnastics on hold, slowly working herself back into shape as she cycled through medications until finding the combination that worked.
It took time.
"It's been a road,'' she said. "I had a lot of doubts."
Freshman Jayla Bookerposted a 9.90 score on floor exercise in her first routine for the Gators in the season opener. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
Those doubts began to ease with each passing day after Dec. 3, 2021. That is the last time Booker suffered a seizure.
She eventually returned to the sport without restrictions and developed into one of the top amateur gymnasts in Florida. She committed to Rutgers, and after a coaching change at the school, looked at other options. The Gators reached out, and the rest is history.
"The team loves her,'' Florida head coach Jenny Rowland said. "She is just a very joyful young woman. The team loves having her around."
Booker is a newcomer to a team loaded with talent. She has contributed to the floor exercise, when called up, most notably with a 9.90 in the season opener.
A Gator fan growing up, hearing the roar of the crowd after her first performance is a moment she won't forget.
"It made me so happy,'' Booker said.
Meanwhile, Booker continues to take medications to treat her epilepsy and can joke about those first weeks that changed her life in 2021.
"At some point, the paramedics knew me,'' Booker said. "They'd come to the house and say, 'Hey Jayla!' I'm proud to be here, and I'm proud to show everyone who does or doesn't have epilepsy that your time will come."
Booker grew up in Coral Springs and has a wise perspective for her age. She battled through the doubts and never stopped believing.
If there is anything she wants others to know on International Epilepsy Awareness Day, it's that they can do the same. Whether they have epilepsy or another hurdle to overcome.
"Trust the process,'' Booker said. "You're going to have bumps and ups and downs, but you just need to keep going. I promise you. It's going to get better."
The color purple provides a constant reminder. So does her dad, Jason.
To support Jayla, he got a purple ribbon tattoo to raise awareness of epilepsy. The tattoo is inscribed with an important message.
