Have you ever imagined competing alongside your sibling on one of the top college gymnastics teams in the country? Sounds like a dream, right? Well, for Skye and Sloane Blakely, it’s a dream come true, but it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Did you know Skye had to withdraw from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials after a devastating Achilles injury? This was back on June 26 during official practice. She was one of the favorites for the Paris 2024 Games after finishing runner-up to Simone Biles at the U.S. Championships just weeks before. Can you imagine how crushing that must have been for her?

But here is the brighter side: Skye didn’t let that injury get in her way. Rather, she took it as a drawback and moved to the University of Florida gymnastics team, for which her sister Sloane has been performing for several years now. And now they are teammates and partners, which could result in a record-breaking NCAA season for the Florida Gators.

From early beginnings to NCAA glory

Florida Gators are all set for what promises to be a potentially exciting season, and the Blakely sisters are right in it. Now a senior at Florida, Sloane has provided consistency for her team and has brought the team to the NCAA Championships for three years consecutively, with Florida earning all-around championships. Skye is still relatively new to college play; however, due to her current injury, she is currently on the bench more often than not. However, she is not idle at all. She is the type of person who brings energy and encouragement to the team and lots of sisterhood. Well, how often do you get to see that kind of dynamic on a college gymnastics team?

And speaking of dynamics, let’s talk about their relationship. It is strange, though; you would expect them to hang out all the time now that they are both in Gainesville, but they live in different places and see each other mostly at the gym. Sloane is 21 years old, while Skye is 19, outgoing but equally ambitious. What’s next for these two? Sloane is preparing for her last season with the college’s women’s gymnastics team. She wants to make the season memorable by winning the national championship and making a fourth straight Final Four.

The best part? Looking at Skye, she may not compete this season, but she will be on the sidelines for her sister and the rest of the Gators. Sloane also exactly understands that her little sister can and wants to continue the Blakely legacy. “I always want her to see herself the way I see her,” Skye said. Isn’t that the cutest thing? But how did their gymnastics career begin at all?

How did the Blakely sisters get into gymnastics?

Let’s rewind a bit: how on earth did these two sisters end up being gymnasts? It all began when their mommy, Stephanie Blakely, took them through gymnastics at such a tender age of two years. She herself was a dancer and decided that they should learn how to flip; it was just for fun. That was unknown to her but was the beginning of both girls learning how to do cartwheels at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Texas and becoming professional gymnasts.

Right from the start, Skye and Sloane challenged one another. Sloane joined the U.S. Senior National Team in 2018, and, of course, Skye had to do the same in 2021. What more can a little sister aspire to? Years later, Skye established herself at the elite level, accomplishing several championships and performing at the 2024 US Championships, being only second to Simone Biles. However, Sloane had a different plan and sign for Florida’s gymnastics at the age of 14 years. Can you possibly picture yourself being that young and knowing where you are going to college? The girls are now both Gators, and life has taken on a new rhythm for the sisters.

With Sloane leading the way, Skye supporting from the sidelines, and the entire team bringing the heat, the Gators are definitely looking like strong contenders for this year’s NCAA Championships. Could this be the year they take it all? Stay tuned!