How Rhode Island Native Outsmarted USA Gymnastics to Book His Place at 2024 Olympics Team Trials

In the world of gymnastics, triumph often arises from adversity, and the journey of a Rhode Island native epitomizes this narrative. During the recent Xfinity Games, one of the lowest-ranking gymnasts in the senior men’s division emerged as a contender for the Olympic Trials, shattering expectations in a surprising twist.

Against all odds, Tate Costa has defied expectations by securing a coveted spot in the Minneapolis trials lineup later this month. Veteran gymnast Ian Gunther has documented this remarkable journey in a compelling Instagram reel, shedding light on how the underdog might just clinch a ticket to the Paris Olympics this summer.

Unlikely triumph: Tate Costa’s strategic journey in gymnastics

In a recent Instagram reel, Ian Gunther detailed how Tate Costa qualified for the US Olympic trials in men’s gymnastics despite initially having the lowest score during the Xfinity Games. Gunther, an expert in the field as an American artistic gymnast, 4-time NCAA team champion, and MPSF team champion with Stanford, explained Costa’s strategic path to success without bending any rules or resorting to cheating. One key requirement for qualifying for the trials is scoring above 51.00 in events like the Championships National Team Training Camp, Winter Cup, or Classics. Additionally, a lesser-known clause allows athletes aged 18-20 to qualify directly if they meet specific difficulty criteria.

Additionally, their chances are not affected by poor execution or landing. This is the clause Costa focused on. He performed extremely challenging routines but often struggled with his landings. Tate competed in all six events: Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Parallel Bars, High Bar, and Vault. Most of his scores were below 12 out of a total of 30 or 29. His highest score was 13.550, resulting in an all-around score of 67.500. His strategy was meticulously executed. At one point, his coach informed the judge that Costa shouldn’t be credited for his dismount. As a result, Costa attempted a more difficult dismount to earn additional difficulty points.

He even took a penalty to rest so he could execute more difficult routines after a short break. Costa himself admitted that it was a little bit embarrassing but extremely hard work. “We added 18 skills to my routine,” Costa said. “It was definitely harder because adding like 4 skills per event in a month and a half is really difficult.” Typically, gymnasts add at most 4 skills during a game. However, since he wasn’t worried about the execution minimum, he was able to make the difficulty threshold of 32. Tate Costa, Josh Karnes, Kiran Mandava, and Kai Uemura are headed to the Olympic wrestling trials in Minnesota.

Tate Costa gearing up to prove himself in Paris Olympics 2024

Though his use of a loophole in the qualification rules may paint Costa as an undeserving candidate, he is anything but. He previously won the NCAA High Bar title with a score of 13.900 and finished seventh all-around. Additionally, he earned All-American honors. These accomplishments propelled him through the qualifying stages in 2024 before reaching the Xfinity Games in Fort Worth. Competing in the 34-man field solidified his standing in the upcoming trials.

Even Tate’s former coach Danilo Gattei is completely confident in his abilities, saying, “He’s the type of kid who will go after whatever he needs to accomplish and whatever he sets his mind to accomplish. He’s someone who doesn’t rest until he gets what he wants, in a good way.” His current coach Yoshi Hayasaki also shares Gattei’s sentiment, praising Costa’s “persistence, confidence, and timeless work ethic.” Tate will likely work on polishing the new skills he has integrated into his routine and choose the best among the 18 that suit his style the most. Now that he has successfully qualified for the trials, he needs to concentrate on just one last round, whether through strategy or talent—hopefully both.