In less than 24 hours, the 2024 USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials will kick off at the Target Center in Minneapolis, where Team USA’s Paris-bound gymnasts will be named. Excitement is through the roof, but so is the drama, especially for the senior women. But, the drama unfolded on June 26th at podium training.

While icons like Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles amazed everyone with jaw-dropping routines, US National Gymnastics Championships 2024 silver medalist Skye Blakely’s fall left the gymnastics community heartbroken. As we reflect on the routines and updates pouring in from Minneapolis, a big question looms: Will Skye Blakely miss the Paris Olympics? If that happens, what potential changes could Team USA face as a result?

Skye Blakely’s dramatic exit from podium training ahead of the 2024 USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials

According to a post on X by Inside Gymnastics on June 26, it was revealed that Skye Blakely suffered an injury during training. While on floor exercise in her final rotation, she landed a pass and immediately fell to the mat, visibly upset. Team USA’s medical staff assisted her off the floor in a wheelchair, with Skye in tears. Later, the technical lead for the U.S. National Women’s Artistic Gymnastics team, Chellsie Memmel, was seen hugging Skye’s coaches. It’s a tough break because Skye had shined in training, standing out among stars like Biles and Suni Lee and faced a similar incident that pulled her out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

In an Instagram post on June 27, Skye Blakely shared the devastating news of ending her 2024 season and bid for the Paris Olympics. She shared a picture from podium training of her chalking up and penned, “Unfortunately I ruptured my achilles during podium training. this is not the way I saw my olympic trials going or how my season ends. I’m devastated and heartbroken but I believe everything happens for a reason. I was so close to reaching my dream but this injury was unavoidable.”

Skye looked back on her season with gratitude, acknowledging that it had been amazing. She accepted that her plans didn’t align with God’s plans and decided to stay positive, keeping her chin high and taking pride in her accomplishments over the past few years. She ended her message with a hopeful note, stating, “I’ll be back.” As we process this disappointing news, let’s consider how things might play out for the other senior women at the trials, given Skye Blakely’s uncertain situation.

The stand-out contenders among the senior women

A selection committee, featuring 2008 Olympic silver medalist Alicia Sacramone, Tatiana Perskaia, and Jessie DeZiel, is tasked with picking the final four team members, along with two traveling and two non-traveling replacement athletes. Following podium training on June 26, Simone Biles’ dominance seems almost guaranteed for the top spot on the Team USA roster in Paris. However, her second in lines face hurdles on this path.

As Skye Blakely’s serious injury knocks her out of contention, it could affect the team’s strength on bars, beam, and vault. Shilese Jones, also a top contender behind Biles, is also facing concerns due to her recurring shoulder injury, which flared up before the championships. Despite struggles in training, Jones managed through her uneven bars routine, including a laid-out Jaeger.

Jade Carey emerges as a strong contender, especially with Skye and Shi’s challenges. Jade showcased an Amanar and already boasts a Cheng on vault, not to mention her impeccable skills on floor exercise as the reigning Olympic champion. Suni Lee’s consistent performances on the beam and floor position her well for a spot, barring any other surprises. Jordan Chiles provides solidity on bars and versatility across other events, potentially filling gaps left by Jones. Kayla DiCello shows promise on uneven bars, likely slotting behind Simone, Shilese, and Suni.

Kaliya Lincoln and Leanne Wong are also in contention as alternates, with each bringing unique strengths despite not being front-runners at podium training. Wong’s standout uneven bars routine and Lincoln’s dynamic floor skills are noteworthy factors in the selection mix. Reflecting on the podium training and the intensifying competition, who do you think will secure a spot on Team USA’s roster for the Paris Olympics? What do you think about Skye Blakely’s heartbreaking injury? Share your thoughts in the comments below!