If you can correctly select all the members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team before the June trials, you might even be willing to buy a lottery ticket right now.
With several top runners sidelined by injuries, it was nearly impossible to predict the outcome. Coming into the trials, the team seemed certain to secure five spots, including, of course, Simone Biles, who won her historic ninth national all-around title and is preparing for her third Olympics. Two-time national uneven bars champion Leslie Jones, Tokyo alternates Kayla DiCello and Skye Blakely also looked like strong contenders, as did Olympic veterans Jordan Childs and Jade Carey, both seeking their second Olympic appearances.
In the three days leading up to and during the trials, three riders – Blakely, Jones and DiCello – were forced out of the race with serious injuries: Blakely and DiCello to Achilles tendons, and Jones to a knee injury.
With those skaters out of the competition, a sudden scramble began for one or even two spots on the team. When qualifying ended on June 30, Biles took first place, making the final team one few days earlier hadn’t predicted. Still, the talent was abundant, and the team will be looking to make a name for itself in Paris.
Competing in the Summer Olympics will be Biles, Lee, Chiles, Carey and, perhaps the biggest surprise, newcomer Hesley Rivera. At just 16 and in her first year of senior elite competition, Rivera excelled on the uneven bars and balance beam, two events the U.S. team was hurt by the absence of injured skaters. The team placed second to the Russian Olympic Committee in Tokyo, but together they will try to bring home team gold for the U.S. again.
Here’s a closer look at the five athletes who will represent the United States in women’s gymnastics in Paris.
Simone Biles: Prioritizing mental health and coming back in top condition
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