Oftentimes, things do not go as expected and Florida Gators’ star gymnast is a first-hand witness of the same. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, all eyes were on this 20-year-old as she was being touted as one of the potential medal hopes for the US National team. But fate had something entirely different planned for the young gymnast. In what was a complete nightmare, this young gymnast left the US Olympic trial arena in tears, having injured her ACL. Getting her Olympics hopes dashed, the Gators’ gymnast began her long journey to redemption. 

Thankfully, with the surgery going well, Kayla DiCello was on her path to recovery. After almost a gap of 6 months, the young gymnast made her very first appearance on the gymnastics mat back in December 2024. Hosting the Gator Hype Night, the 20-year-old Maryland native came in to showcase her incredible skills on the bars. Watching her go in full flow, the Gators fans did not have the slightest of doubts about DiCello returning to action in the coming season. 

Unfortunately, things went downhill once again. In an Instagram post from the Gators’ official handle, it was revealed that DiCello had a heavily bandaged left foot. Such a situation once again put question marks on DiCello’s potential return timeline. Thankfully, DiCello is on the road to recovery and finally had some good news to share. In an update on TikTok, DiCello could be seen standing with the help of a pair of crutches. She still had her foot bandaged but informed that it was time for her to ditch the bandage and upgrade to a foot walker boot. “Okay guys, you already know. It is time to get this bad boy off. I have never been more excited,” she said. 

Next up, she was seen struggling to get into the car as the 20-year-old stated, “Okay, getting into my car is always the hardest part because it’s so high, but I make it work every time.”  And she did, making it look easy given her situation. The gymnast was then spotted getting her bandage removed while she exclaimed in elation, “Okay guys, I have officially upgraded to a boot. This is progress, so I’m getting closer to two feet.” Well, she is a Gator and Gators are fighters. Take Skye Blakley for example. Not only did she return in double quick time after her Achilles tendon injury, but she also put on a great show for the Gators against Michigan State!

Now, while there is still no official confirmation about when exactly DiCello will make her return, the latest update surely is a positive one. Meanwhile, in a recent revelation, Kayla DiCello spilled the beans on the actual reason for her opting to undergo a second surgery.

Kayla DiCello Shares Real Reason For Second Surgery

The gymnastics world was left in shock on December 23, 2024, as Kayla DiCello announced her second surgery in just a span of 6 months. This was an unexpected surprise as the 20-year-old was supposed to make a comeback at the start of the NCAA season. In fact, she was also spotted participating in active gymnastics drills back in November 2024. However, with confusion swirling, DiCello herself decided to clear the air. 

In a December 31, 2024 post on TikTok, the Gators’ star posted a 53-second video titled, “Me & my foot”. While she was revealing her fancy eyelashes to her fans, DiCello talked about her second surgery.  “So yes, I got surgery on my other foot and it’s different than the one that I previously tore at trials.” DiCello said. She further added, “This was a planned surgery. So I knew I was going to be getting it done for like a few weeks.” The Maryland native also revealed that she has been dealing with the injury for almost 3 years now. While her situation has taken a positive turn since then, it will be interesting to see how well she can replicate her past performances after her long break from the mat.