Race for U.S. women's gymnastics squad heats up with team announcement 150 days away
With World and Olympic champions - including Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and Sunisa Lee - vying for spots, the 2024 team could be one of the toughest to make ever
Artistic Gymnastics
With 150 days to go until the U.S. gymnastics team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be announced at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the time to impress has arrived.
February marks the first major competition of the 2024 U.S. elite gymnastics season – the Winter Cup Challenge, set for 23-25 February in Louisville, Kentucky. There is also a U.S. national team camp scheduled for 5-8 February. USA Gymnastics has yet to announce the fields for either event.
But regardless of the rosters, the battle to make Team USA for the Paris Games could be even more intense than in past years.
“This is definitely going to be one of the tougher teams to make,” said 2008 Olympic silver medallist Alicia Sacramone, who is now part of the U.S. team leadership and serves as the squad’s high performance strategic lead, last year. “You, obviously, have veterans coming back. You have some younger seniors who are making a push to try to make a name for themselves.”
More contenders than you can count
Veterans, newcomers and everything in between will be vying for one of the just five spots the U.S. can send to Paris in women's gymnastics.
The Americans have the last three women to claim Olympic all-around gold attempting to make the team in Gabby Douglas (2012), Simone Biles (2016) and Sunisa Lee (2020), not to mention Tokyo 2020 Olympic floor champion Jade Carey and team silver medallist Jordan Chiles.
The squad also boasts the likes of two-time World all-around medallist Shilese Jones, and Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong who both helped the United States continue its dominating streak at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Newcomer Joscelyn Roberson marked herself as one to watch last season, winning two titles at the Cairo World Cup, in addition to strong showings at the DTB Team Challenge and Pan American Championships. She made the U.S. Worlds team, but had to withdraw from competition after sustaining an injury during warmups for the team final.
In addition to those nine, yet more contenders abound.
Kayla DiCello served as the U.S. alternate at both the 2023 Worlds and Tokyo 2020 Games. Her impressive return to elite gymnastics last season culminated in all-around gold at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
After a record-setting NCAA career, Trinity Thomas is returning to elite competition for the 2024 season, recently announcing she intends to compete in the all-around at the Winter Cup in late February. Thomas has shared recent training videos on her social media, including an uneven bars routine that is sure to mark her as a contender.
2022 U.S. all-around champion Konnor McClain hasn't competed in elite gymnastics since taking her national title two seasons ago. But while she competes in her freshman year campaign at Louisiana State University, McClain has said the Olympics remain her number one goal.
Other women to keep an eye on including DiCello’s gold medal-winning Pan Am Games teammates Kaliya Lincoln, Zoe Miller and Tianna Sumanasekera.
2024 U.S. gymnastics season overview
After the U.S. camp and Winter Cup in February, Team USA goes international with events in Azerbaijan and Germany.
Below is an overview of critical events for gymnasts hoping to earn a spot on Team USA for the Paris Games, of which the deciding event will be late June’s Olympic trials.
February
5-8 National Team Camp (Houston, Texas)
23-25 Winter Cup (Louisville, Kentucky)
March
8-10 World Cup (Baku, Azerbaijan)
12-18 DTB Pokal Mixed Team (Stuttgart, Germany)
April
16-22 Jesolo Trophy (Jesolo, Italy)
22-29 Pacific Rim Championships (TBD)
25-28 American Classic (Houston, Texas)
May
17-19 U.S. Classic (Hartford, Connecticut)
30-June 2 U.S. Championships (Fort Worth, Texas)
June
27-30 U.S. Olympic Trials (Minneapolis, Minnesota)