Dallas Fort-Worth Tornado: Gymnastics World in Threat for 2024 Xfinity US Championships

The road to Paris makes a stop in Fort Worth, Texas, for the 2024 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships from May 30 to June 2. During this pivotal event, the nation’s top gymnasts will compete for national titles and strive to secure spots in the Olympic Trials. As the last significant meet before the Olympic Trials from June 27-30, this championship is crucial for athletes aiming to make the five-man and five-woman teams for the Paris Games. However, with just one day left before the Xfinity, Fort Worth is facing severe weather challenges.

The Dallas region, in North Texas, experienced winds and intense rain that led to flooded streets, falle0n trees, and power disruptions affecting a large number of residents. Many locals were startled awake by the blaring tornado alarms. This raises concerns about whether gymnasts traveling to the event will be able to attend, echoing past disruptions experienced by athletes like Gabby Douglas at the Classics.

Severe storm causes power outages and flight disruption

Hours after a powerful storm struck the Dallas-Fort Worth area, approximately 488,000 residents remained without power, according to Oncor’s outage map. Oncor spokesperson Grant Cruise announced at a Tuesday news conference that some of the damaged power lines would require complete rebuilding rather than simple repairs.

The company has called for assistance from other utility agencies across Texas and neighboring states, with crews working tirelessly to restore power. However, further storms are forecasted for the region this week, potentially including additional tornadoes, complicating the recovery efforts.

The recent harsh weather conditions have led to disruptions, at the airports. On Tuesday, airlines canceled around 17% of flights from Dallas Love Field and 13% from DFW International Airport due to the recent harsh weather conditions. Additionally, nearly one-third of flights at both airports were delayed as reported by FlightAware. The storms have left more than half a million homes and businesses losing power adding to the travel woes for individuals including athletes gearing up for upcoming competitions.

Travel uncertainties for the 2024 Xfinity US Championships loom for US gymnasts

Of concern is Shilese Jones, a dedicated U.S. Gymnast hailing from Auburn, Washington. With a journey spanning a daunting 6 hours and 15 minutes to reach Texas by air, her travel plans hang precariously in the balance amidst the backdrop of ongoing flight cancellations. Similarly, Jade Carey, residing in Corvallis, faces her own challenges to reach the championship with a travel time of 3 hours and 46 minutes by air, while Jordan Chiles, based in Los Angeles, contends with a 3-hour and 5-minute journey to Texas by air.

Gabby Douglas, who made a comeback, to the competition scene this spring after the 2016 Rio Games is dealing with travel uncertainties. She needs to fly from Los Angeles to Texas, a trip that usually lasts under three hours. However, her travel plans might be affected by weather and potential flight disruptions. This current scenario raises questions, about whether these athletes will reach their destinations on time for the 2024 Xfinity US Championships and be able to compete as scheduled amidst the travel conditions.