2024 USA Championships: One Step Closer to the Olympic Trials
This past weekend, the Xfinity Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted the top competitors, who are now heading to the Olympic Trials to try to secure a spot on the Paris team.
Simone Biles took home gold, achieving her ninth all-around national record. Standing next to Biles on the podium, Skye Blakely came in second, and Kayla DiCello in third. In addition, Suni Lee took fourth, and Jordan Chiles came in fifth.
HISTORY!!! GOAT!!! NO ONE LIKE HER!!!
— NYX Pro Makeup US (@NYXCosmetics) June 3, 2024
On day two of the championship, Biles fell on her first vault attempt, completing her own named skill–a Yurchenko double pike. Being aware of one’s surroundings in any event is crucial. Unfortunately, Biles had too much power, opening up short on her landing, causing her fall.
The gymnast opted not to have her coach stand on the mat for safety precautions (as she had in previous competitions), which cost her half a point. Nevertheless, she came back, and due to the high difficulty level, she came in first in the event, competing in her second vault and taking home gold.
Skye Blakely also performed incredibly this past weekend, thrilling fans with her outstanding beam routine, consisting of a standing full and a front walkover front tuck. Fans were awed at the athlete’s gracefulness in her front tumbling with blind landings. Additionally, Blakely came in second on the vault and third on the balance beam and uneven bars.
Give me plenty more Skye Blakely Performances please!! She put on quite a show tonight!
— Tyler Wong (@TylerWong65) June 1, 2024
Suni Lee, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, returned after taking a year off due to kidney troubles. Even though the gymnast started day two rough–with a fall on her first vault–she shook off the nerves, not letting it affect the remaining events.
Overcoming her struggles, Lee is gaining physical strength and being mentally aware. Lee revealed, ”I feel like I don’t even need to be perfect on beam and bars to get where I want to be. That’s just the reminder that I just have to go out there and do my normal.”
Jordan Chiles, the 2020 Tokyo team gold medalist, expressed her love for Beyoncé wearing two leotards representing the singer’s most iconic looks. The gymnast placed second on the uneven bars, 0.05 points away from Biles, and fifth on her first vault.
For day one of the U.S Championships, gymnast Jordan Chiles wore a leotard inspired by Beyoncé’s custom Pucci catsuit from the Renaissance tour. https://t.co/HZK05fL9z6 pic.twitter.com/7lli4G8bnM
— Brooklyn White-Grier (@brooklynrwhite) June 2, 2024
The next stop is the Olympic Trials in Minneapolis, which will take place from June 27 to 30. This competition will determine which five athletes will make the US Olympic Team.
Readers can check out USA Gymnastics’ Instagram for updates leading up to the Olympic Trials.
