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Deseret News
What Skye Blakely said about the injury that will prevent her from going to the Olympics
By Trent Wood,
20 days ago
Skye Blakely was about as close to a guarantee as could be found when it came to the gymnasts who were going to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics this summer.
After Simone Biles, Blakely had proven the most consistently great performer among the contenders for the American team — a group of gymnasts that includes reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee, reigning Olympic floor champion Jade Carey and Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles — and is a two-time world champion, helping Team USA win the gold the last two years.
The 19-year old had proven herself on all four events in the lead-up to the Olympic trials, especially on balance beam and uneven bars — a great benefit to Team USA.
So when Blakely went down with an injury during podium training Wednesday night ahead of this weekend’s U.S. gymnastics trials, it was a devastating blow.
The seriousness of the injury was confirmed Thursday when USA Gymnastics announced on X that Blakely had suffered an Achilles injury that will prevent her from competing at the upcoming trials, eliminating her from the Olympic team.
“Unfortunately I ruptured my achilles during podium training,” she wrote. “This is not the way I saw my olympic trials going or how my season ends. I’m devastated and heartbroken but I believe everything happens for a reason. I was so close to reaching my dream but this injury was unavoidable. I had an amazing season that I am extremely grateful for. the plans we have for ourselves aren’t always the plans God has for us. I’m going to keep my chin high and be proud of the statement I have made for myself these past couple years. I’ll be back.”
Blakely has now been knocked out of Olympic contention in the last two Olympic cycles right before the U.S. Olympic trials. Ahead of the 2021 Olympics, she tore a ligament in her elbow and was unable to compete.
With Blakely eliminated, the U.S. team will be comprised of five of 11 remaining gymnasts:
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