USA Gymnast Drops Emotional Update After Career Defining Injury Puts Plans on Hold

Gymnastics is a sport where both mind and body must be in sync. It’s legendary for its intensity and grace, but also for how quickly things can go wrong—especially with injuries. Tyler Turner, a 16-year-old gymnast from San Jose, is unfortunately facing that reality right now. Just when she was about to make her senior elite debut, she suffered a ruptured Achilles.  A gymnast who’s been dreaming of the Olympics since she was just 7 years old now finds herself dealing with a devastating setback, and the path she once saw as wide open has been suddenly blocked.

Gymnastics Now shared an update on X, featuring a message from USA/WOGA gymnast Tyler Turner, who had first posted it on Instagram. She wrote, “Looks like my senior elite debut I was so excited for will have to wait for now. Unfortunately, I ruptured my Achilles. I’m heartbroken and shocked because I didn’t see this coming.”

Even with all her efforts to train safely and stay on top of her physical therapy, she’s learned the tough lesson that injuries are an unpredictable part of gymnastics. But what’s amazing is that Tyler hasn’t let this break her spirit. She’s been through tough challenges before—like overcoming paralysis as a GBS survivor—and she’s holding on to that strength now. “I keep the faith that I’ll overcome this too,” she said.

This 16-year gymnast is staying positive and focused on recovery. She’s grateful for the surgery going well and for the support pouring in from her family, coaches, teammates, and medical team. She thanked everyone on social media, including @wogagymnastics and @usagym, for their support, thoughts, and prayers. “I feel truly blessed, cared for, and loved,” she wrote. With her parents by her side, she’s already proven her resilience, having fought back from a rare GBS disorder to compete for the USA National Team, and we’re confident she’ll overcome this injury just as she did before.

16-year-old gymnast turning the tables in the sport!

The family of Tyler Turner saw that at age seven she established a deep enthusiasm for gymnastics. Tyler remembers stating to her parents, “I really wanted to do it,” and soon her world altered unexpectedly. Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) became the medical diagnosis that robbed Tyler of her ability to walk.  From her hospital bed, Tyler maintained absolute determination during her recovery time. After receiving recovery clearance at age 7.5 her parents immediately backed her gymnastics aspirations and she started training right away.

Tyler’s mother, Corrin, remembers initially thinking it was just a stomach bug, but it was much more serious. Against the odds, Tyler not only survived but chose gymnastics as her path. Fast forward to 2024, and Tyler’s dream has come true. After years of hard work and overcoming obstacles, she qualified for the USA National Team Camp 2024. She shared a post  on Instagram last year, Tyler shared a powerful “HAPPY 8 YEAR GBS ANNIVERSARY.”

The post included a series of photos, from her hospital bed as a child to competing as a gymnast. Yet, she’s proven time and again that no challenge is too great. “I told my parents I really wanted to do it, and after my recovery, I made gymnastics my career,” Tyler said. Despite the late start, Tyler has more than proven her place in the sport.

Tyler’s results speak for themselves. During 2024 Tyler became a national standout as she achieved a second-place win on Floor Exercise at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships along with impressive showings at the Winter Cup and Core Hydration Classic. Her achievements outside the United States included awards such as a Team gold medal at the Jesolo Trophy together with International Gymnix events. This young gymnast shows great promise for the future after building her excellent track record and we are excited about her forthcoming achievements. We wish her quick healing together1