“This Could Be the Year…”: Ahead of the Paris Olympics, 20-Year-Old Champion Gymnast Looks Forward to Shining at the Mega Games

In gymnastics, the journey is just as fascinating as the final goal. The same goes for a 20-year-old Olympian gymnast who decided to leave the University of Florida to focus on her Olympic dreams. Under the guidance of coach Kelli Hill and nothing but passion stoking the flames of her desires, this wunderkind’s dedication propelled her back to elite-level training, much like how she secured a U.S. alternate spot during the Tokyo Olympics. After her phenomenal performances at the 2023 Pan American Games all-around championship, will she transpose and replicate her skills going forward this year?

The 2021 World bronze medalist recently revealed her objectives for 2024, starting the new year with hopes of representing the United States on an international stage. With resolute focus and nothing to dent her sheen, what good tidings does the portent of the Olympics 2024 bring for her?

Kayla DiCello is off to a great start

The Maryland-born is no stranger to the spotlight, having become one of the most talented gymnasts in America. Along with two gold medals in the Pan American Games, she won her first global gold medal in the team event at the 2023 World Championships. Kayla outlined her conflicted feelings as she began the new year in an Instagram post shared by Inside Gym. She said, “I think when the calendar flipped, it was just all of the emotions- excited and nervous.”

The gymnast continued, “but I think it was mainly excited because you always think about it – 2024 – like, ‘Oh, it’s not that far away. And now it’s here! This could be the year that I make it and every day I just work towards that goal and that’s always in my mind.” Last January, DiCello made her collegiate debut with the highest all-around score of 39.475 in a trifecta of universities’ NCAA match.

Her aim for the elite level entry at the 2023 U.S. Classic in August resulted in her premature exit as a Florida Gators gymnast. DiCello has a strong desire to represent the United States at the Olympics in Paris once more before moving back to Gainesville. It remains to be seen if Kayla DiCello’s college experiences will improve her performance on the global scene, making 2024 the year that will define her.

Road to Paris Olympics 2024 unfurled

Thinking back on her incredible debut at the Pan American Games in 2023, DiCello proved herself to be a valuable member of Team USA yet again. She won silver in the floor, gold in the team event, and finished fifth in the balance beam finals. She also won an individual gold in the all-around competition. However, the two-per-country restriction prevented her from competing further.

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Team USA’s Pan American Games win was their sixth consecutive one, highlighting their superiority and paving the way for DiCello’s trip to Olympics trials ahead of the Summer Olympics.

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