With an eye on participating in the U.S. Olympic Trials and Paris 2024, Trinity Thomas, the 2022 NCAA All-Around Champion, and 34-time NCAA All-American, announced her Elite return seven months ago. At the 2024 Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, the 22-year-old made a stunning comeback to the elite gymnastics scene, her first since the 2019 Pan American Championships. She was joined by Kayla DiCello, another gymnast for Team USA, and her teammate of the Florida Gators ilk.

Hosting more than 200 elite gymnasts, the Winter Cup, which took place from February 23 to 25, is on its final leg today. While the two Gators shone on the first day, there was more on the line than their performance: who is the taller among these world-class athletes? What does their respective physical stature encompass?

Kayla DiCello and Trinity Thomas’s standing beyond gymnastics

In 2018, while still a junior, DiCello showed off her prowess by earning an all-around score of 55.400, higher than any other junior or senior competitor’s score. This pattern was evident in the 2024 Winter Cup, where the gymnast, who stands 5 feet 4 inches tall, won first place on Day 1 with an incredible all-around score of 56.850. She scored 14.300 on bars, 14.050 in floor exercise, and 14.200 in vault.

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On the same day, Trinity Thomas, the 2023 NCAA team silver medalist, who stands 5 feet 3 inches tall, achieved the fourth all-around place with a score of 53.250. Interestingly, she finished second on the bars, which was the highlight of her performance as she dreams of reaching the Olympics stage. Given DiCello’s outstanding success and Thomas’ desire to make a good return, their disparate heights make their competition more interesting. However, often standing on the same mats, the Florida Gators star gymnasts took after one another when vying as a team.

Florida Gators’ camaraderie last season

During the 2023 NCAA Pittsburgh Regionals, Trinity Thomas was forced to end her performance mid-floor routine due to an injury to her right lower leg. However, Thomas stayed to cheer for her mixed team with experience in the Regional Final. Despite her absence, Kayla DiCello took center stage and led the Gators with an impressive 39.800 all-around score. The SEC Freshman of the Year scored a perfect 10 on uneven bars.

Meanwhile, Thomas added her name to NCAA history last year, joining only two other gymnasts with her 28th perfect 10 on vault. And now, with both gymnasts on the verge of the Winter Cup finals, the question still stands: who will win this match between the Gators?

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