2025 US Nationals Pre-Comp Discussion

[irichluck21]

Pease and Hezly are for sure together. That's gotta be a favorite squad already.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Simone Rose and Jayla Hang will be together as well if they're grouping by club. That could be a good squad itself.

 

[cftmoonlight79]

I think the kids will enjoy this. Sometimes the team aspect makes it more fun, especially since elites rarely get to do team comps anymore.

 

[RedBirdie]

Skye Blakely is listed as University of Florida not WOGA

 

[RichardL]

Skye Blakely is listed as University of Florida not WOGA

That was to be expected! I think the coaches have learned a lot from working with Wong, and training together I'm sure had some major benefits for both gymnasts. Wong was doing it all alone last quad (after her team was off for the summer) so this probably helps.

 

[BB12]

Since it is an individual Worlds, I am sure being a specialist isn't going to be a problem as someone needs to sit out an event anyway. So Blakely would sit out vault and floor.

That said, Blakely IS training all around, she's just not doing it at Nationals. She could always do AA at the World Selection camp at the end of September. If she receives an invitation to compete, which if she hits bars and beam she absolutely should get one.

She should get an invite even if she doesn't.

 

[RichardL]

She should get an invite even if she doesn't.

Yes, of course. In some alternate timeline she is a two-time Olympian and at least a BB World Champion, if not also an Olympic vault and beam medalist. Some of the worst injury luck (and ribbon luck ugh)

 

[RedBirdie]

That was to be expected! I think the coaches have learned a lot from working with Wong, and training together I'm sure had some major benefits for both gymnasts. Wong was doing it all alone last quad (after her team was off for the summer) so this probably helps.

I thought she was back at WOGA this summer.

I.hope the UF coaches do a better job of routine construction with Skye than they have with Leanne.

 

[MaryClare]

I haven’t been impressed at all with Florida’s coaching of Leanne but she does seem very GAGE indoctrinated so many not be all that open to doing anything different

 

[KristyJ]

I haven’t been impressed at all with Florida’s coaching of Leanne but she does seem very GAGE indoctrinated so many not be all that open to doing anything different

Honestly I just finished reading her book (inspired by QuietColors), and she doesn't come off that way.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

I haven’t been impressed at all with Florida’s coaching of Leanne but she does seem very GAGE indoctrinated so many not be all that open to doing anything different

Totally agree. They aren't even capable of maximizing the potential of their NCAA athletes. They may be the best recruiters in the NCAA, but that team has consistently underachieved relative to their potential. Why anyone would think Elite would be any better is beyond me. I, too, was under the impression that Skye was at WOGA this summer as well. I have less faith in her ability to be a contender at worlds if she has been at UF the whole time.

 

[Passion]

She has been training at both WOGA and Florida.

It makes sense to get used to going to elite competitions with Florida since that’s where she will be training in the fall during the lead up to Worlds.

Florida Gator Skye Blakely Targets Elite Comeback

“A successful way to end 2025 is to be healthy, feeling good, my Achilles is back and strong, working on four events again, and just overall, being proud of how far I have come in a year after a major surgery.”

www.insidegymnastics.com

While Blakely is surrounded by talent, she is also surrounded by an immense amount of support. She spent the year at Florida where the staff helped her recover and begin to do gymnastics again. Currently, she’s training at her club gym WOGA, but does plan on attending camps with Florida assistant coach Owen Field.

“I am going to National Team camp with Owen,” Blakely said. “Definitely working with Florida, and they worked with me, to get a lot of those elite skills back that I showed in college. So that was helpful, but also still working closely with WOGA, I am currently training here. I’ve been training here at WOGA for two weeks now, and I’ll be here probably another two weeks. So just talking to them about my plan and skills I want to get back. They give me their input, and I tell them what I’ve been working on, or what my plan and goals look like. Working with Florida this year, more so training with them, but still working closely with my WOGA coaches, they have been also extremely supportive and helpful. It’s nice to have such a wide variety of support behind me.”

 

[RedBirdie]

Another Skye article. This one indicates she's been back at Florida for a while. It also sounds like while she could attempt AA at selection camp, she's only going to do bars and beam this year

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/skye-blakely-us-gymnastics-steady-return-paced-myself-injury

 

[BB12]

I thought she was back at WOGA this summer.

I.hope the UF coaches do a better job of routine construction with Skye than they have with Leanne.

I still believe the thing that kept her off the team was her routine construction. And if she was with a proper/experienced elite coach, it wouldn't have been the same issue