Excitement is in the air as our country’s top gymnasts gather to vie for a few precious spots on Team USA, aiming to represent the nation at the Paris Olympics. The competition is stiff, the stakes are high, and fans everywhere are on the edge of their seats.
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It’s that thrilling time again to set Team USA’s men’s and women’s Olympic artistic gymnastics teams. Your favorite gymnasts have gathered in Minneapolis to compete in the team trials from Thursday, June 27 to Sunday, June 30. After the event, the 2024 artistic gymnastics teams for the Summer Games in Paris will be revealed. Notably, Simone Biles, the most-decorated American gymnast, is back and ready for redemption after her challenges in Tokyo 2021.
Other hopefuls include medalists Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and the promising Skye Blakely. For the men, Brody Malone, Yul Moldauer, and Cameron Bock are also eyeing a spot on Team USA.
Stay tuned as we keep you updated with all the live action from Minnesota.
Skye Blakely Pulls Out of Trials After Getting Injured During Practice Session
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We have some unfortunate news to share. Skye Blakely, a rising star and a top contender for the women’s gymnastics team, has pulled out of the trials following an Achilles injury during a practice session on June 27. Just a day before the women’s competition was set to begin, her right leg gave way during a tumbling pass. She was understandably emotional as she was helped off the podium and into a wheelchair for evaluation.
According to USA Gymnastics, “During Podium Training on Wednesday, Skye Blakely sustained a right Achilles injury and will be unable to compete in Olympic Trials.” They added, “We are cheering for Skye in her recovery!”
Blakely, only 19, had placed second in the all-around at the 2024 Winter Cup and also had an impressive performance at the National Championships in May, finishing right behind Simone Biles. This injury is especially heartbreaking as it recalls her 2021 setback when she tore a ligament in her elbow during the first day of the U.S. Olympic trials, forcing her out of that competition as well.
If she had made it, these trials would have marked her Olympic debut. A day before the incident, Blakely shared her excitement for the official practice session on Instagram Stories, captioning a selfie, “Podium training 🤍.”
How to Watch and Who’s Competing at the 2024 Trials
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team trials kicked off with men’s competition on Thursday, June 27, and will wrap up with the second day of women’s competition on Sunday, June 30. All four days of this thrilling event are aired live on NBC and USA Network and streamed on Peacock.
The daily schedule is as follows:
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Who’s competing? Laurie Hernandez, an Olympic gold medalist, highlighted Skye Blakely’s impressive performance at the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships in May. Hernandez called her “kind of an underdog.” She also mentioned Simone Biles’ six-point victory at the same event, which was unprecedented. Here’s the full roster for the men’s and women’s competition and how they finished at Nationals.
Former Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez Breaks Down How the Team Is Chosen to PEOPLE
Another group of exceptional gymnasts will soon be chosen for the Olympic team, but how does the selection process work? Laurie Hernandez offers some insight. Hernandez, who won silver and gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics and serves as a commentator for NBC, shared that there are “three tiers of qualifiers.”
First was the 2024 Core Hydration Gymnastics Classic in May. This event qualified athletes for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, where Simone Biles won by six points. The top performers then move on to the Olympic trials.
The top two finishers at the trials are automatically selected for the Olympic team. However, the remaining spots can be filled according to the needs and strategy of the Olympic Committee. A gymnast in fifth place could be swapped with the person in sixth or seventh if the committee decides it’s the best move.
Following the selection, the athletes attend a training camp where decisions are made about who will compete in which events.
