MINNEAPOLIS — Skye Blakely, one of the top contenders to earn a spot on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team for the Paris Olympics, has withdrawn from the trials after rupturing her right Achilles’ tendon.
Blakely suffered the injury while practicing a tumbling pass during a training session Wednesday. She had to be carried off the floor and then exited the arena in a wheelchair with her face in her hands.
Blakely finished second in the all-around at the recent national championships, trailing only Simone Biles and solidifying herself as a favorite to make the five-member team for Paris.
“I’m devastated and heartbroken but I believe everything happens for a reason,” Blakely wrote on Instagram. “I was so close to reaching my dream but this injury was unavoidable. I had an amazing season that I am extremely grateful for.”
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The 19-year-old from Frisco, Tex., was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. teams at the world championships in 2022 and 2023. She had shown improvement this season, particularly by debuting a new, difficult vault at nationals.
At the Olympic trials in 2021, Blakely suffered an injury while warming up just before the competition began. At that time, she was not one of the athletes expected to make the team; she was a 16-year-old who had become age-eligible for the Olympics only because of the postponement of the Games. This time, she entered the trials as a favorite.
Blakely is not allowed to submit a petition for a spot on the Olympic team. The selection procedures allow petitions from gymnasts who finish first or second in the all-around at nationals and have a score from nationals that would have placed first or second at the trials. Blakely could have met that criteria; however, this option is available only if a gymnast has an illness or “extenuating circumstance.” According to the procedures, petitions because of injury will not be accepted.
correction
An earlier version of this story said Blakely could petition to be named to the Olympic team even if she were unable to compete at the trials. Petitions because of injury are not accepted. This story has been updated.
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