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CUMBERLAND — Sofia Cutter wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She wasn’t trying to be funny. And she certainly wasn’t trying to go viral.

The Greely sophomore hurdler was just trying to stay on her feet. And the only way she could think to do it resulted in all three of those outcomes.

Cutter turned a potential wipeout into a viral highlight in a track and field meet at York High School on May 8, saving herself from a fall by turning her stumble into a cartwheel that she landed before finishing the 300-meter hurdles race.

A video of the move shared Monday by Cutter’s mother, Dottie Chalmers Cutter, had 2.5 million views, 110,000 likes, 1,183 comments and 33,000 shares as of Thursday evening. She told Varsity Maine that she’s been contacted by ESPN and “Good Morning America” regarding the video. 

“The response has been overwhelming. We never expected this moment to go viral or resonate with so many people,” Dottie Cutter said via text from California while on a business trip. “We were simply sharing and celebrating her incredible athleticism as both a competitive gymnast and a track hurdler. It’s been amazing to witness the outpouring of encouragement and support.”

As big as the video has become, the most impressive part may be how quickly it’s grown. Seemingly overnight, the 15-year-old Sofia has become a celebrity.

“I went to bed a couple of nights ago, and it was like 20,000 views. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s kind of a lot.’ I woke up the next morning and it was at a million,” she said. “Every class I had (Thursday), the teacher asked me about it. And then in the halls, all my friends, a lot of people (who) I know their face but haven’t talked to before have been asking me about it.”

Cutter is the second Greely athlete to go viral for an impressive athletic feat in recent years. On April 30, 2024, Greely baseball’s Marky Axelsen earned the No. 1 spot on the “Daily Top 10 Plays” segment on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” after making a diving catch before zipping a perfect throw to first base for a double play.

How many times has Sofia had to tell the tale of her highlight?

“Probably over 200 times,” she said. “I’ve said it so much, to everybody at my gym, track practice, coaches, teachers, family. It’s gone everywhere.”

Telling the story yet again, Sofia said the flashy feat was self-preservation kicking in. Normally a 100-meter hurdler, she was trying to go for a personal record in the 300 when she overstepped after clearing a hurdle and began to fall toward the track’s rubber surface.

“I started realizing I messed something up,” she said.

Instinct kicked in. Sofia, a competitive gymnast for five years at Maine Academy of Gymnastics in Westbrook, braced herself with her hands and converted her momentum into the cartwheel — “a front walkover,” she said — to not only stay on her feet, but keep her momentum going forward.

On the video, Dottie Cutter is heard laughing, along with other members of Sofia’s family. Sofia finished in 54.51 seconds, placing second to York’s Karianna Hultstrom (50.49). Though Sofia left the lane, her finish was legal since she quickly returned to it and didn’t impede any runners.

At the time, Sofia thought nothing of the move; the walkover is the way gymnasts are taught to protect themselves. But soon after she crossed the line, teammates, officials and opposing athletes came over to congratulate her.

“For me, it was just kind of a safety thing, what I thought was the best decision in the moment,” she said. “But everybody else thought it was the most athletic move ever.”

When she watches the video, though, she sees why so many have been drawn to it.

“I don’t think there’s a time I’ve watched it where I haven’t laughed. It’s funny every time,” she said. “And I’m still kind of impressed that I had the quickness to do that, it really shows how my gymnastics training has paid off. In every instance, I guess.”

The story’s only getting bigger. She’s all for it.

“In the beginning, I didn’t know how long it was going to last,” she said. “Now that I’m realizing how many people are reaching out about it, I think it’s really cool and I don’t mind telling the story as much as I need to.”

Over 200 times. And counting.

Staff Writer Mike Mandell contributed to this story.