Utah Women Gymnasts At The Tokyo Olympics

They are happy to represent the USA Team

The 2020 Olympics became the 2021 Summer Olympics after COVID

Athletes often work hard almost their entire lives to be able to compete in the Olympics. Being able to represent their countries is a major feat. Making the U.S. women’s gymnastics team is especially difficult with the tough competition that exists.

The United States is considered as the country to beat at the Tokyo Olympics as far as women’s gymnastics are concerned. Their teams have been outstanding for the last two Olympic games with winning many gold medals.

Simone Biles is no surprise to be representing the United States again. Biles was born in Ohio on March 14, 1997. She has a combined total of thirty Olympic and World Championship medals in gymnastics. She is the most decorated American gymnast and the third most decorated in the world rankings. She is considered to be one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. [Wikipedia]

Two of the six team members and an alternate member chosen are from the University of Utah women’s gymnastics program in Salt Lake City.

The six women who will be representing Team USA at the women’s gymnastics events are Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Jade Carey, and MyKayla Skinner. The four member team will include Biles, Lee, Chiles, and McCallum. Carey and Skinner will compete in the individual apparatus events.

The International Gymnastics Federation added the two individual spots so that smaller countries could participate even if they are unable to field a team of four gymnasts.

The U.S. women’s gymnastics this year is more diverse than previous teams.

Biles is 24 and from Spring, Texas. She is the reigning Olympic champion. She has not lost an all around competition since 2013.

Lee is 18 and from St. Paul, Minnesota. She is a two time national silver medalist in the all around competition. She is a master on the uneven bars. She is recovering from a broken foot.

Chiles is 20 and from Spring, Texas. After meeting Chiles at the 2018 National Championships, Biles suggested that Chiles move to Texas to train with her, which she did. Chiles was born in Oregon and named after Michael Jordan.

McCallum is 18 and from Isanti, Minnesota. She was a member of the 2018 and 2019 World Championship teams. She has had some injuries, but she is coming back and is a consistent competitor.

Skinner is 24 and from Gilbert, Arizona. She barely missed out on making the four-person team, but she will complete in the individual event at Tokyo.

Carey is 21 and from Phoenix, Arizona. She was already secured as one for one of the new spots on the Olympic team in the individual events.

The Utah gymnasts are affiliated with the Utah Red Rocks (the women’s gymnastics team at the University of Utah). Skinner is an alumni of the University of Utah and was a member of the Red Rocks while in college. McCallum is expected to start her college career at the University of Utah this coming fall.

Kara Eaker is also an incoming freshman at the University of Utah and has qualified as one of four “alternates” for the U.S. Olympics team.

The University of Utah has had an outstanding women’s gymnastics program for decades. They have consistently been producing championship gymnasts over many years.

[Source: KSLTV news, Wikipedia]