“This is not the way I saw my Olympic trials going or how my season ends.” The American artistic gymnast Skye Blakely, a victor in the 2022 and 2023 World Championships for group events, was poised to dazzle at the Paris Olympics. However, the 19-year-old prodigy was forced to withdraw, her dreams thwarted by injuries sustained during podium training at the US Olympic Trials earlier this year. She took to Instagram to share the news of her withdrawal, describing it as a heartbreak. The announcement reflected the deep sorrow of missing the chance to shine at the Paris Olympics. “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 Blakely embarked on her gymnastics journey in 2008 at the tender age of 3, joining the esteemed World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA). In February 2020, Blakely soared to the top at the WOGA Classic, clinching first place in the junior division with a dazzling score of 57.150, surpassing even the seniors, and marking a stellar moment in her burgeoning career. Her formative years were spent competing at WOGA, which profoundly shaped her career from its inception. Now 19, Skye Blakely took to Instagram to share a heartfelt note for her academy, showing much love. Her note brimmed with affection, honoring the place that has been pivotal in her gymnastics journey. She stated, “3 years old to 19. 16 years with woga gymnastics. I’ve learned so much in the gym but more in life.”

WOGA has not only shaped Skye Blakely’s career but also nurtured many other elite gymnasts who are now soaring in their respective fields. The academy has been a crucible of talent, where aspiring gymnasts have honed their skills and risen to prominence, each carrying forward the legacy of excellence forged within its walls. Let’s uncover the other stellar athletes who have been shaped by WOGA’s transformative training.

Who are the other marvels nurtured at WOGA?

Beyond Skye Blakely, WOGA has been the training ground for other remarkable talents, including Hezly Rivera, Nastia Liukin, Carly Patterson, and a constellation of legendary gymnasts. Their journeys, each a testament to the academy’s profound impact, sparkle brightly in the world of gymnastics.

At just 5 years old, Hezly Rivera could scarcely have dreamed of stepping onto the Olympic stage at the tender age of 16. Yet, in her debut, she triumphed with a golden medal. Although she didn’t compete directly, she was an integral part of the US gymnastics team that soared to first place, a shining star in their collective victory. Rivera trains at WOGA, a pivotal forge in her journey where she has crafted such remarkable achievements at such a young age. The academy’s influence has been instrumental in nurturing her extraordinary talent and guiding her to these heights.

Not only Rivera, but the illustrious former artistic gymnast Nastia Liukin also honed her craft at WOGA. Liukin, a luminary of her era, boasts an impressive resume: five Olympic medals, World Championship titles in balance beam and uneven bars in 2005, and balance beam again in 2007. Additionally, she is a four-time all-around U.S. national champion, with victories as both a junior and senior. Her father and retired artistic gymnast, Valeri Liukin, along with fellow Soviet champion Yevgeny Marchenko, founded WOGA in Texas in 1994. The end of her story came to a close when, after failing to qualify for the Olympics in 2012, she decided to retire gracefully from competitive gymnastics in July of the same year.

Day after day, as the roster of these stellar gymnasts grows, one truth becomes abundantly clear in all of their stories: WOGA has been more than just instrumental in sculpting their illustrious careers. Now, as Skye Blakely anticipates her future competitions, it doesn’t need to be stated that WOGA will consistently nurture her talent, poised to help her become one of the most celebrated gymnasts of all time in the chapters yet to unfold in her career.