Some say that making the Olympic team can be even harder than medaling at the Olympics themselves, and for American gymnasts, that may be true. Competition is fierce, and there are only five slots available each for women and men.
For the women, it’s more like four, given that Simone Biles is still competing. As long as Biles keeps competing at the spectacular level of difficulty she’s known for, she has a place on this squad. That leaves four spots for 15 other women to compete for.
…make that 14 other women. Unfortunately, earlier this week in podium training, future Gator Skye Blakely suffered an Achilles tear while practicing her double layout on floor. This is especially devastating as this is the second Olympic Trials in a row that Blakely has missed due to an injury right before competition. She was coming off of a fantastic showing at U.S. Classic and a solid U.S. Championships where she upgraded her vault, making a strong case for her inclusion on the team. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to covering her in the future, whether in Gainesville or a return to elite.
But there are still two Gators battling it out for a berth on the squad – Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong. DiCello will be a sophomore in the fall, after deferring a year to focus on making the Paris team, while Wong will be a senior, as she continued training at Florida and has managed to compete both NCAA and elite over the past year.
Coming into the summer, Wong had the edge over DiCello, with back-to-back World Championship berths that resulted in team gold both times. However, DiCello has made a convincing case for herself, adding difficulty and showing consistent improvement over the course of the year. She took the No. 3 spot at U.S. Championships after Biles and Blakely, and with Blakely out, she and Shilese Jones are the only non-Biles athletes to have crossed the 56.0 mark in the all-around in 2024. DiCello’s done it twice – once when she won Winter Cup and again on Day 1 of U.S. Championships. The highest-scoring team by the numbers now has her on it, with Blakely out. After being an alternate in Tokyo and Antwerp, will she finally get the call?
Wong in particular has faltered where Team USA would need her, falling on beam at both Classic and day 2 of Championships, as well as missing some connections on bars that lowered her difficulty and going out of bounds on floor. She’ll have to have a much more consistent Trials to show that she can still be depended upon in pressure situations. We’ve seen from podium training that she has more upgrades to show, which will come in clutch now with Blakely out of the running, but she’ll need to show the ability to hit when it counts even with the additional difficulty.
Based on the current team picture, with Biles and Jones seeming like locks provided they remain healthy and reigning all-around gold medalist Sunisa Lee looking ready to make a second team, it feels unlikely that DiCello and Wong would both be selected, given that they are both all-arounders without true “standout” events. However, there could be a world in which team medal chances are valued so much over individuals, such that two solid all-arounders are a better choice than one all-arounder and one vault/floor specialist to balance Lee’s bars/beam specialty. It’s unlikely, but not completely impossible – we’ve seen team selection take stranger routes, let’s be honest.
There are still some familiar faces to watch out for that are competing for these final two spots, if Biles, Jones, and Lee are selected as expected. Wong’s fellow elite/NCAA combo athlete Jade Carey is a significant medal threat on vault and floor and can’t be discounted, and DiCello’s fellow “defer-to-focus-on-Paris” athlete Jordan Chiles was a crucial part of the Tokyo Olympic team that took silver. They’re the other frontrunners competing with Wong and DiCello for these two spots.
There are also a few younger gymnasts who could contend – Joscelyn Roberson, Tiana Sumanasekera, and Kaliya Lincoln all have significant international experience to speak of and could contribute strong routines on at least one event. New senior Hezly Rivera is also a dark horse pick after a strong showing at Championships, coming in at No. 4 on beam and No. 6 AA.
Day 1 starts tonight at 7:30 ET on Peacock, and the NBC broadcast begins at 8, but we’ll have all the action for you here play by play.
7:27pm: Well, the meet hasn’t even started and already we have major drama!
Shilese Jones did something to her knee in warmups just a few minutes ago…
Reports in the arena said it looked bad, with some saying they could hear her cry out over the arena music. However…
We just got this from USA Gymnastics – will she compete AA? Bars only? Unclear at this time, but what a fighter. I just hope that she truly has been cleared and she’s not putting a cortisone shot “band-aid” on it just to get through tonight… I would hate for her to fight through here just to have a career-ending injury because she tried to push too hard.
7:32pm: Peacock hasn’t started broadcasting yet… I would imagine there was some kind of delay due to Jones’s need for medical attention? Hopefully it will start soon.
7:36pm: We have video! These leos are incredible. Haven’t addressed the Jones issue any further than we know, yet.
DiCello, VT: Punched on the board, was clearly off, just did a layout… sits it down and doesn’t get up. WHAT. This cannot be happening.
She’s being taken off the floor in a wheelchair now. Devastating already. I don’t know how to cope.
Lee, VT: She’s crying now, she and DiCello are roommates here at Trials. And now she has to vault. Good god. DTY, a little crooked on the block, chest a little low, but makes it around and safely. At this point, I’ll take it.
Biles, UB: Weiler half to Maloney to uprise full pirouette. Piked Tkachev to pak salto, strong. van Leeuwen, some leg separation. Another full pirouette, a little over handstand. Double twisting double back dismount, so efficient in her twisting, little hop on the landing. Not her best but it’ll work.
Carey, UB: Handstand work is okay. Bhardwaj is solid. Back up to high bar, some leg sep. Ezhova is pretty clean. Pirouette way past handstand. Full twisting double back dismount, basically stuck. Again she’ll take that.
7:45pm: Lincoln, VT: DTY, very clean in the air, big hop back.
Molomo, UB: Has a moment on low bar, has to recast and try again. Maloney to pak, decently clean. van Leeuwen is clean. Big Jaeger, great turnover. Didn’t have enough gas at the end to put her dismount to her feet, sat it down. Tough.
DiCello officially out of Olympic contention. Jones not competing vault.
Someone bubble wrap Wong. Good god.
Wong, VT: She’s upgraded her first vault to a Cheng! The same vault Carey competes – it’s a vault finals kind of vault.
Cheng – low on the block but SO quick in the air – just a small hop on the landing. Wow!
Chiles, UB: van Leeuwen is great. Handstands are gorgeous through here. Piked Jaeger is FABULOUS. Piked Tkachev to pak, legs glued together, great amplitude. Maloney to gienger is clean. Full twisting double back – stuck! She saw that open door and said I’m walking through it!
Back to Wong for her second vault – a DTY – lots of juice, big slide back.
She gets a massive 2.0 neutral deduction on the Cheng due to lack of support on both hands – one hand just brushed the vault table with her fingertips, instead of actually putting pressure on it. She can’t do that again on Day 2.
Rivera, VT: DTY, a little wild… someone check the vault. Please.
8:04pm: Reports from the arena said Rowland was filling out paperwork after Wong’s vault – must have been inquiring on the neutral deduction.
And it must have been accepted! That helps.
STANDINGS AFTER ONE:
- Wong, 14.45
- Biles, 14.425
- Chiles, 14.35
- Lincoln, 14.225
- Rivera and Carey, 13.575
- Lee, 13.525
NBC showing all the horrific injuries now… I am speechless. How is this happening???
Sam Peszek saying Alicia Sacramone-Quinn, USAG Strategic Lead for the women’s program, just texted her saying she feels unwell… BIG MOOD!
8:09pm: Carey, BB: Front aerial to split to bhs swingdown, well connected. Bhs loso, some flexed feet but her knees have gotten a lot better. Switch side, strong. Switch to switch half to straddle, actually good split positions, love that. Side aerial is solid. Bhs bhs double pike, single step – a little close to the beam, but a great routine for her!
Wong, UB: Great opening handstand work. Jaeger is great. Pirouette is lovely. Bhardwaj is solid. Maloney to pak, doesn’t connect but doesn’t falter with her rhythm either. van Leeuwen is clean. DLO, little hop back. Well done. She looks happy with that!
Chiles, BB: Front tuck mount, wobbles but holds on! Bhs loso, very solid. Front aerial to straddle to bhs, very quick connections, she’s doing angry beam now. Side somi, clean. Switch leap sissone, great extension. Side aerial is dead on. Switch side, incredibly precise. Roundoff double pike, little hop back. The fight in her! She killed that.
Jones, UB: She’s going to compete bars! Knee is HEAVILY wrapped. Great opening handstand and pirouette work. Ricna to pak, some leg sep, to Maloney clean. Tkachev is great. Double front, just a little hop forward but stays on her feet! Don’t think that was her full difficulty but what a fighter. Incredible. A 14.765!!! Huge.
But commentator Terry Gannon saying she is withdrawing from the rest of the night – no beam and no floor. That will be a major blow to her chances at making the team.
8:31pm: Rotation 2 continues!
Lee, UB: Great opening handstand. Nabieva to Bhardwaj, makes that connection but has to break the series. van Leeuwen is solid. Jaeger is gorgeous, to pak nicely done. Great low bar handstand. Maloney to gienger, well done. Great pirouette, not done in combination, but full twisting double back. She’s doing the full difficulty finally! Should be a huge score, even with some missed connections.
Sumanasekera, BB: Candle mount, excellent. Bhs bhs2ft layout, well done! So floaty! Front aerial to split jump I think? This angle is terrible. Switch to switch half, those splits were a little tight. Side aerial, strong. Sissone to wolf jump, clean. Bhs bhs double pike, little step forward. Very solid.
Lincoln, UB: Good low bar work – ooh, overdoes an Endo but figured it out somehow. Maloney is clean. Tkachev to pak, big leg sep. van Leeuwen is clean. Slings her dismount out quite far but sticks it! 13.45.
River, UB: Hesitates on the Weiler to open but figures it out, low bar pirouette is better. Ricna is good. Pak clean. Maloney also fine, but nothing really connected so far. Sticks her dismount! 14.025, I’m surprised her D got that high, 6.1.
Biles, BB: Switch leap mount, big break, arm swings, but stays on. Switch half to back pike, another bobble. She’s mad now. Triple wolf, little check at the end but holds onto it. Front aerial to split to straddle, excellent. Bhs loso loso, so quick, she’s mad now. Side aerial, clean. Full in, hop back. Yeah, she’s upset with that. It’s not going to affect her ability to make the team at all, but she’s a recovering perfectionist. She knows she’s capable of better.
STANDINGS AT HALFWAY
- Wong, 28.375
- Biles, 28.075
- Chiles, 27.975
- Lee, 27.925
- Lincoln, 27.675
- Rivera, 27.6
- Roberson, 27.225
- Carey, 27.15
8:49pm: Rotation 3!
Wong, BB: Switch leap mount, doesn’t connect it. Switch to switch half, wobble. Oof. Switch ring, another check. Bhs loso, now she’s getting her feet under her. Double wolf turn, stays steady. Front aerial to split to straddle, corrects midair, shows no sign of struggle. Side somi, clean. 2.5 twist dismount with just a little hop – she’s so thrilled.
Chiles, FX: Crowd going wild for her – they know the treat they’re in for. FTDLO to open, really well controlled, just a small hop. Front full through to full in, great power, takes it right to the corner. Double wolf, a little wild but tries to cover it. Dance series looked clean. DLO, little bit of an ankle cruncher but kept it in bounds. Finessed it for sure, but well done.
Rivera, BB: Double wolf, pretty steady. Side aerial, foot comes up with a check, but stays on. Bhs loso, much more solid. Switch to switch half, definitely short of 180, to bhs swingdown. Front aerial to split to straddle, a little hesitation out of the aerial but covers well. Switch ring, great position. Bhs bhs double pike dismount, stumbles back a little, she’s too deep, but does stay on her feet. Good fight.
9:02pm: Roberson, FX: Moors to open! It looks shockingly good! She did not look like she’d be able to pull that off even at Championships a few weeks ago. FTDLO for her second pass, also landed well. Dance elements a little questionable on rotation but splits are good. DLO is great. Triple wolf turn is very steady. Front through to double tuck – probably a good idea considering her stamina struggles at Classic and Champs. Well done! That’s huge for her stock.
Sumanasekera, FX: FTDLO, suuuper straight body position, wow! DLO also rod straight, incredible. Gorgeous splits on her dance series, very precise. Double wolf turn, super clean. Whip half through to front full, very clean. Double pike, a little shift back. Incredible! She’s making her case for sure.
9:13pm: Lee, BB: Loso mount, steadier than most have been. Front aerial split bhs, good connections. Triple wolf, sooooo steady. Wow. Switch to switch half to ring jump, good positions in the air, good finish. Side aerial loso, OH GOD – big leg up, break at the hips wobble but stays on! Switch ring, another check. Gainer full off the end – little hop.
Caylor, FX: We’re finally getting a Caylor routine!! Yes! One of my faves – I’m not-so-secretly hoping she comes to UF. DLO, floated it in the air too much and had to crunch it forward. Double pike, that’s better. Double wolf, a little wild. Switch ring, a little shy. Back 1.5 to front full, goes OOB, ouch. Double tuck, OOB again – that’s tough, but still, glad she’s here.
Biles, FX: Here we go! Triple double to open, just a tiny bounce in place? Holy cow, she’s unreal. Front full through to double double, also a small hop. Really controlling her landings tonight. A little flub on her dance series but covers well I think. Wolf turn is clean. Biles I – DLO with a half out – one foot OOB, she can take it. DLO to close – there’s nothing like watching her end with a pass that most gymnasts start with. I’ll never get over it. She’s much happier with that than she was with beam.
9:24pm: Carey, FX: Moors to open, looking good! Some knees still but very clearly laid out. FTDLO, even straighter, good. Being very careful with her dance elements – wanting to make sure she gets the right credit, I would imagine. Looked pretty precise to me. Double double, looked like a step OOB. Front through to double tuck, a little deep in the landing, but overall a great routine.
STANDINGS
- Biles, 42.925
- Lee, 42.325
- Chiles, 42.075
- Wong, 41.6
- Rivera, 41.3
- Carey, 41.225
- Roberson, 41.15
- Sumanasekera, 40.55
9:35pm: Rotation 4!
Rivera, FX: FTDLO, both feet OOB, oof. DLO, very clean. Switch ring, gorgeous, looked like she tripped on her second element but covered into choreo? Hard to tell. Double tuck, a little short maybe? 2.5 to finish, stays in bounds. Looked pretty good overall.
Roberson, VT: Cheng, big stutter step back. Lots of knees in the air, a little low on the block it looked like. Looks like she’ll do a second vault. Not that we’re seeing it.
Lee, FX: FTDLO, stuck cold??? Sunisa Lee! Switch ring to split full, gorgeous. 1.5 to front full, not super difficult but very clean. Great musicality through here. Triple wolf turn, lovely. Double tuck to finish, opened a little early and bounced back. She had a FABULOUS night, holy cow!
9:45pm: Sumanasekera, VT: DTY, stutter step back. Pretty clean in the air too.
Biles, VT: Yurchenko double pike, just a single step back, brings her second foot back as well. Absolutely ridiculous, and the crowd knows it – they are on their feet for her! We are so lucky to live in the time of Simone Biles!!
Cheng for her second vault, twists SO fast, just a slightly larger hop back. She is just the GOAT, no holds barred.
Lee finishes the night as now the only healthy non-Biles athlete with over a 56 AA score this summer! And Biles finishes with a 58.9 – WILD that that is her lowest single-day AA score this summer.
Carey, VT: Cheng for her first vault, well done – just a small hop in place and some leg sep in the preflight. Knees didn’t look bad at all.
Wong, FX: Let’s see how the CEO ends her night! Gorgeous straddle full to open. Double double for her first pass, tried to save it but stumbled OOB. DLO, much cleaner, just a small shift back. Dance series is gorgeous as usual. Whip half to front full, the easier pass but I agree with that choice. Double pike to close – good for her going with the pass she knew she could hit.
Chiles, VT: DTY – great form and power, just a little hop back.
And they decided to show us athletes talking instead of Chiles’s second vault for whatever reason… anyway!
STANDINGS AFTER NIGHT ONE:
- Biles, 58.9
- Chiles, 56.4
- Lee, 56.025
- Carey, 55.825
- Roberson, 55.475
- Lincoln, 54.875
- Rivera, 54.825
- Wong, 54.75
With DiCello out and Jones highly questionable, this team picture just got VERY fuzzy very quickly. It could be a repeat of the Tokyo team – Biles, Chiles, Lee, and Carey – with one additional athlete. But then the question is… who?
We’ll be back here for Day 2 at 8 ET to see if Wong can rep the Gators and make her first Olympic team – you won’t want to miss it!
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