A US student gymnast has won legions of new fans around the world after breaking out some unexpected hip hop moves while performing.

While competing against rival university team the Utah Utes, UCLA athlete Sophina DeJesus wowed the crowd and left commentators almost speechless when she mixed flawless flips and folds with her best dance moves, set to the beat of a hip-hop mash-up.

Despite chants from the audience urging judges to award her a perfect 10 for the floor routine, she was given a 9.925.

A video of the performance has now been watched more than 25 million times and shared across social media.

And it helped her team - the Bruins - claim victory in the competition too.