The gymnastics fans, especially the Florida Gators ones, couldn’t believe their eyes just before Christmas. On December 23, Kayla DiCello, Gators’ vital cog, broke the news on her social media. She had undergone another surgery. This time, it was on her left foot. After facing an injury in the US Olympic gymnastics trials in June this year, it was her second surgery on her feet. However, during the trial event, she faced the demon in the ACL of her right foot. The injury and the subsequent surgery had kept her away from the mat for several months. And in December, weeks before the Gators’ gymnastics duel, the sophomore came under the knives and needles again. What was the reason? 

Remember, Kayla had already started her gymnastics drills in November and had a high chance of making a comeback in the upcoming NCAA season. But everything went into the water because of her surgery. Since then, the fans have been searching for the reason behind it. Now, it seems they have an answer. 

Kayla DiCello reveals the key factors leading her to another surgery 

On December 31, Kayla DiCello shared a clip on her TikTok, captioned, “Me & my foot.” In the 53-second-long clip, the 20-year-old was seen in her bedroom, revealing her fancy eyelashes to her followers. The unusual break from her gymnastics routine earned her a few free hours to spend the time on her own. However, in the clip, Kayla didn’t look to come under the toll of surgery. Instead, the Pan American Games champion was in her usual glee while showcasing her possession of fancy eyelashes. In the meantime, she shared a few words regarding her second foot surgery. In one such moment, Kayla said, “So yes, I got surgery on my other foot and it’s different than the one that I previously tore at trials.” DiCello added, “This was a planned surgery. So I knew I was going to be getting it done for like a few weeks.” So, she might recover quickly and make a comeback early. Isn’t it? 

No, nothing concrete has come up yet on that matter. Why? Kayla DiCello shared something frightening in the clip. While showing her eyelashes, the Team USA member said, “This [the injury on her left foot] was something that I had been dealing with for like, I don’t know, maybe three years And so I kind of saw this as like my opportunity to get it done while I’m recovering the other one.” So, she decided to mend her left foot weeks before her first gymnastics game as a sophomore. Isn’t that a risky call? Kayla doesn’t think so. She eventually laid out, “I’m very happy with this decision to get this foot fixed so I can be back better than ever.” The word might add hope to the ongoing situation. But the Maryland native didn’t share any timeline of her return. Will she turn into a redshirt? Does she have an option to recover fully while saving her year in Florida Gators? 

The redshirt dilemma for the champion gymnast

Kayla DiCello kept herself away from the NCAA gymnastics last season. She had her eyes set solely on making the flight for the Paris Olympics, representing the women’s artistic gymnastics team. She even brought her long-time coach, Kelli Hill, out of retirement. But every effort crumbled because of her injury in the US Olympic gymnastics trials. But now the question is, will she be eligible to sit another season because of her injury? 

The answer is yes. As per the common rule, a gymnast can play four seasons in five calendar years. But Kayla has already taken an off last season as a part of her redshirt. So, that rule might not give her another year to redshirt. Yet, there’s a way out. Another rule from the NCAA book says, “A gymnast may medically redshirt if she is injured after competing in less than 30% of competitions before the midpoint of the season.” Kayla DiCello has an advantage there to claim the option. And in special circumstances (related to injury), the gymnasts can earn six years of eligibility. So the former junior all-around champion has the window to take her time. The rest is on her, though. Do you want to predict something? Let us know in the comment box.