The fight for a place on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team is on inside the Kentucky International Convention Center, and it’s a close contest between the best of America. With over 30 gymnasts in contention, the first three rotations saw breathtaking competition between Trinity Thomas, Skye Blakely, and Kayla Dicello. But the excitement touched heights when Simone Biles started to cheer behind the young generation.
Biles is missing the ongoing Winter Cup 2024 because she has already qualified for the national team. However, she has all her eyes glued to the screens as the younger generation prepares at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Simone Biles impressed with gymnasts at Winter Cup 2024
It seems Simone Biles is all eyes on the ongoing Winter Cup as women gymnasts fight it out for a place in the national team. The Olympic Medalist took to X to comment on the performance of the gymnasts so far, and she was highly impressed. “The girls are not playing around this year”, she wrote as Kayla Dicello and Trinity Thomas aim for Olympic berths while Suni Lee had a disappointing comeback.
Lee made a return, but she wouldn’t be satisfied after falling twice on the uneven bars. The 2020 All-around champion fell right after she started her routine and as she regained the momentum back, Lee lost her grip on the bars once again. But the 20-year-old restarted once again and made a spectacular landing to take home 11.8 points. She didn’t perform the full-twisting Jaeger as well but will participate next on the balance beam. While she looks to find a bit of form, and a little luck, the likes of Thomas and DiCello are on absolute fire at the moment.
Trinity Thomas, Skye Blakely, and Kayla Dicello lead the Winter Cup standings
Thomas led the first rotation with a stellar performance to take the first position on 14.050 points. The World Medalist was followed by an equal score from DiCello, who soon raced with the lead in the second rotation. The 2023 Pan American champion topped the standings in the 2nd and 3rd rotations as well and is highly likely to retain the standing after the fourth rotation as well.
She stands on 42.550 while Skye Blakely ranks 2nd for now on 40.450 points. Thomas, who is making her first elite appearance since 2019, couldn’t maintain her momentum after the first rotation and ranks 5th on 40.050 points. While it doesn’t look like anyone will be able to overtake DiCello, anything can happen in the sport. So, keep hanging, just like Simone Biles is.
