Olympic hopeful Skye Blakely encountered a leg injury during her training in Minneapolis, casting doubt on her participation in the upcoming Olympics. Reports suggest that the 19-year-old gymnast was practicing her floor exercise when she had a mishap on a tumbling pass, resulting in the need for assistance to leave the floor and eventually requiring a wheelchair to be transported.
Witnesses revealed that Blakely was visibly upset, with reports indicating that she was “sobbing” at the time of the injury. U.S. gymnastics official Chellsie Memmel was seen consoling Blakely’s coaches, painting a grim picture of the situation. Despite the lack of official confirmation on the severity of Blakely’s injury, the initial reactions following the incident do not bode well for her Olympic aspirations.
Having shown great promise in the sport, Blakely has been a frontrunner for a spot on this year’s Olympic gymnastics team, which only accommodates five competitors. While all eyes have been on veteran gymnast Simone Biles, Blakely managed to secure a second-place finish behind Biles at the U.S. championships in June. Additionally, she has contributed to the U.S. teams that clinched gold in the past two world championships.
Unfortunately, Blakely’s Olympic dreams were thwarted previously due to an untimely injury before the trials leading up to the Tokyo Games. Another setback at this crucial juncture would be devastating for her hopes of securing a spot on the national team. The upcoming Olympic trials are set to commence on Friday, culminating in the selection of the final squad on Sunday.
As the gymnastics community awaits further updates on Blakely’s condition, her fans and supporters remain hopeful that she will make a swift recovery and reclaim her position as a top contender in the sport. Stay tuned for more developments on this evolving story.