Current:Home > FinanceWho will make the US gymnastics team for 2024 Paris Olympics? Where Suni Lee, others stand -Summit Capital Strategies
Who will make the US gymnastics team for 2024 Paris Olympics? Where Suni Lee, others stand
View
Date:2025-04-16 21:39:33
FORT WORTH, Texas — Simone Biles is a gimme for the Paris Olympics. Because, duh. Did you watch her at the U.S. championships? Or any other competition since she returned last year?
The question is who joins the four-time gold medalist on the squad for Paris. And that answer is now both clearer in some ways and murkier in others than it was a few days ago.
Suni Lee and Skye Blakely improved their prospects with their performances at nationals last weekend. But now there are concerns about the health of Shilese Jones, who was considered almost as much of a lock as Biles until she withdrew from nationals to protect her injured shoulder.
“There's been a little bit of progress,” Jones told NBC on Sunday night. “I woke up and I was like, 'It's feeling a little bit better than this whole week.' It's been a little bit stiff, but some progression today."
Subscribe to USA TODAY's newsletter:Chasing Gold: Your guide to the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Olympic trials for gymastics are June 27-30, so it’s not time to panic just yet. In the meantime, here’s a look at the contenders:
Stock rising
Suni Lee
Lee competed the all-around for the first time since last spring, when a kidney ailment forced her to cut her final season at Auburn short. If not for a fluke error on vault on the second night — she stubbed her toe on the runway and had to cut her Yurchenko double to a 1½ — Lee would have finished third.
Lee was fabulous on balance beam, with her 14.9 on Sunday the highest score on the event of the entire meet. She missed being third on uneven bars by a mere 0.050 points despite her routine not having its full difficulty.
“Beam and bars are the one thing I need to — not prove myself on, but that’s where I’m going to be the most useful to the team. So I’m glad I could (do) both those (well),” Lee said. “I just have to go back into the gym and work on my consistency, get my bar routine with full difficulty and keep staying consistent on beam.”
Skye Blakely
She put together two solid and consistent nights that included the first 15 of her career, for her upgraded Cheng vault. She was second to Biles in the all-around both nights, and she was top three on vault, bars and beam.
Though she was a member of the last two world championship teams, Blakely played a supporting role. Her performance at nationals showed her — and she hopes the selection committee — that she’s ready to be a main contributor in Paris.
“Coming off this meet, I know what I’m capable of now, so that will put even more confidence in myself,” she said. “I see myself in training, so I know what I can do. But to be able to finally put it out there on the floor and show everybody and myself, it really means a lot to me.”
Jordan Chiles
The Tokyo Olympian is making steady improvement, but it was her silver medal on uneven bars that really stood out. Remember that the format for team finals is three gymnasts on each event and all three scores count, and Chiles would give the U.S. women insurance on bars and vault.
Hezly Rivera
The U.S. junior champion last year made quite an impression in her first nationals as a senior, finishing fourth on balance beam and fifth on uneven bars.
Work in Progress
Jade Carey
She has the big vaults, but she needs to score better on floor exercise, where she’s the reigning Olympic champion. That's not a complete surprise, given the quick turnaround between Carey's NCAA and elite seasons.
Kayla DiCello
High-scoring potential is one thing, but consistency is another. After a fall on uneven bars and a rough performance on balance beam, DiCello needs to show at trials that she can deliver under pressure.
TBD
Shilese Jones
If she's healthy, she’s on the team. These next three weeks will be big.
Kaliya Lincoln
Lincoln withdrew from nationals midway through the first night with an injury but petitioned into Olympic trials. Could add a big score on floor exercise.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Georgia tops preseason college football poll. What are chances Bulldogs will finish there?
- Georgia tops preseason college football poll. What are chances Bulldogs will finish there?
- Simone Biles' husband Jonathan Owens was 'so excited' to pin trade at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Baltimore city worker died from overheating, according to medical examiner findings
- There will be no 'next Michael Phelps.' Calling Leon Marchand that is unfair
- USA men's basketball vs Brazil live updates: Start time, how to watch Olympic quarterfinal
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Recreational weed: Marijuana sales begin in Ohio today. Here's what to expect.
Ranking
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Georgia attorney general says Black studies course can be taught under racial teaching law exemption
- Florida man charged after lassoing 9-foot alligator: 'I was just trying to help'
- 4 hotel employees charged with being party to felony murder in connection with Black man’s death
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Ryan Reynolds Hilariously Confronts Blake Lively's Costar Brandon Sklenar Over Suggestive Photo
- Stephen Curry talks getting scored on in new 'Mr. Throwback' show
- Indiana’s completion of a 16-year highway extension project is a ‘historic milestone,’ governor says
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Paris Olympics highlights: Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker golds lead USA's banner day at track
FACT FOCUS: False claims follow Minnesota governor’s selection as Harris’ running mate
A soda sip-off or an election? Tim Walz, JD Vance fight over the 'Mountain Dew Belt'
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
White Sox end AL record-tying losing streak at 21 games with a 5-1 victory over the Athletics
Judge rejects bid by Judicial Watch, Daily Caller to reopen fight over access to Biden Senate papers
Authorities arrest man accused of threatening mass casualty event at Army-Navy football game