Tag: Skye Blakely

Gators gymnastics catches injury bug at Olympic Trials

A pair of Florida gymnasts have made early exits at the US Olympic Trials following injury.

Three Florida Gators made it to the US Olympic Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag] is the only one still standing (literally) after one day of competition.

Incoming freshmen [autotag]Skye Blakely[/autotag] and [autotag]Kayla DiCello[/autotag] are done due to Achilles injuries. Blakely went down during floor exercises on Wednesday and DiCello was helped off the floor shortly during the opening event.

“Thank you so much for all your love and support,” DiCello wrote in a letter on social media Saturday. Unfortunately, I ruptured my Achilles on the opening event at Olympic Trials. While this is not the result I envisioned, there’s so much to be proud of.

“… As I begin my healing journey, I’m thankful for your prayers and good wishes. This is not the end of my story.”

DiCello was a reserve for the Tokyo Olympic Games. She has since been a “stalwart of the U.S. squad,” medaling at the 2021 World Championships and winning the 2023 U.S. World Championships as an alternate.

Last season, she earned All-American second-team honors and was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year at Florida.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Pair of Gators gymnasts competing at U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials

Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong will be fighting on behalf of the Florida Gators this weekend at the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials.

Florida gymnastics standouts [autotag]Kayla DiCello[/autotag] and [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag] are slated to compete this weekend in the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Team Trials at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Unfortunately, Florida freshman [autotag]Skye Blakely[/autotag] will not be able to partake in the events after suffering a right Achilles tendon injury during a training session on Wednesday.

The 2024 Trials features 16 women competing to be among the five-member team for the U.S. Olympic Team. Both DiCello and Wong were replacement athletes for the 2020 Olympics. The U.S.’s gold-medal 2023 World Championships team included the Gators trio (DiCello – replacement athlete) while Blakely and Wong won gold with Team USA at the 2022 Worlds.

Wong and Oregon State’s Jade Carey competed each of the last three seasons with their respective universities. DiCello was the 2023 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year with Florida and then took a gap year in 2024 to train for the Olympics.

Since 1980, 75 different gymnasts have represented the United States at the Olympics, with six earning berths after competing in a collegiate season.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Trio of Gators stand out at U.S. Gymnastics Championships Day 1

The U.S. Gymnastics Championships are currently cooking in San Jose, California.

Three current members of the Florida gymnastics program are currently competing in the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California, which kicked off on Friday, Aug. 25.

Incoming signee [autotag]Skye Blakely[/autotag] and junior [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag] came in third and fourth, respectively, on Day 1 of the competition. Sophomore [autotag]Kayla DiCello[/autotag] also logged in the day’s fourth-highest floor exercise score (13.50) but struggled in some other events.

A part of the Team USA Champions Series, the U.S. Championships determines the women’s U.S. champions and U.S. National Team. Scores from Friday and Sunday’s competitions are combined to determine the U.S. Championships event champions. The women’s competition helps determine invitees to September’s Pan American Games/World Championships selection camp.

DiCello and Wong were among four in the U.S. Championships on Friday who also competed in the 2023 NCAA Championships — putting them among the 10 since 2000 who competed at the NCAA Championships and then the U.S. Championships in the same year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1388]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.