There are athletes who win medals and then there are athletes who win moments. For Joscelyn Roberson, the story has never just been about routines or scores. It’s been about the grit to rise when your body tells you to stay down. After a crushing ankle injury at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Roberson wasn’t just fighting to stay on the team. She was fighting for her Olympic dream. And against all odds, with her foot barely healed and her faith barely intact, she fought her way into the Paris-bound senior squad. Because for her, walking away was never an option.

Now, with the Olympics on the horizon and her ankle in a better place, Roberson isn’t just returning. She’s rebuilding. In a bold move, she parted ways with Simone Biles’ World Champions Centre to train under Chris Brooks at Arkansas, seeking fresh energy and a deeper connection with her craft. Her comeback trail begins at the US Classics on July 19, where she aims to ease back into competition. But make no mistake. Her eyes are set on the bigger prize.  This isn’t just recovery. It’s revival.

Inside Gymnastics took to Instagram highlighting, “❤️❤️❤️ When times were tough as she battled back from an injury to try to make the 2024 Olympic team, Joscelyn Roberson says the support system around her helped her to get back on track. And through the process, she realized just how much she loved the sport of gymnastics. Now, she makes a return to Elite following a stellar freshman season with Arkansas! And she has her sights on LA 2028!” That journey, one paved with resilience, discovery, and fire tells the story of an athlete who never took the easy route. After a grueling injury setback and the heartbreak of falling short of the Olympic team, Roberson didn’t walk away. She pushed forward, redefining her goals in the midst of uncertainty. What began as recovery became a rebirth.

Her freshman campaign at Arkansas wasn’t just impressive. It was trailblazing. Roberson didn’t just show up; she shattered expectations. Despite arriving mid-preseason, she quickly adapted to a new city, new teammates, and a new rhythm. From there, it was historic: she broke the Razorbacks’ freshman all-around record, qualified for nationals becoming the first Arkansas freshman to do so in seven years and tied for ninth all-time in program history. “This year is more just for me and just getting back out there more than anything else,” she shared. And in every routine, she proved that her comeback wasn’t just about results, but reclaiming joy.

Now, back in Elite and training 28 hours a week, Roberson’s grit is once again leading the way. Even as Arkansas fell short of its collective goals, she was a standout force. By adding bigger skills to her weekly sessions, she’s focused on becoming the version of herself that not only belongs in the conversation for LA 2028 but demands it. Her selection as an Olympic alternate in 2024 was proof of her mettle. But it’s this new chapter. Filled with self-belief, relentless training, and deep love for the sport. That might just be her most powerful yet.

Roberson’s relentless spirit defines her road back to glory

Joscelyn Roberson is not easing back into elite gymnastics. She’s powering through it with 28 hours of weekly training and her sights fixed squarely on a future brimming with potential. Her freshman year at Arkansas was nothing short of extraordinary. While the Razorbacks as a team didn’t reach the NCAA championship final on April 19, Roberson’s individual brilliance stole the spotlight. At the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, she posted a 39.425 in the all-around, the highest NCAA all-around score ever recorded by a freshman in Arkansas history, earning her 13th place overall.

That season was a whirlwind of record-breaking performances. She rewrote the expectations for what a freshman could do. Three times, she broke Arkansas’s freshman all-around record. She became the first Razorback freshman in seven years to qualify for nationals. And this from an athlete who already had a world championship title and national team credentials on her résumé plus elite-level coaching from Simone Biles’ gym. But while the stats dazzled, her story ran deeper. She was a leader on a team still finding its rhythm and a living example of how to compete with heart even when the podium doesn’t appear in reach.

Despite the team’s absence from nationals, Roberson’s presence left a permanent mark. Then came the Olympic news. Roberson had made the roster as one of Team USA’s traveling alternates. A bittersweet moment for many, but for her, it was a quiet triumph. After the heartbreak of missing Worlds due to a last-minute ankle injury that threw Leanne Wong into competition, Roberson understood better than anyone how fleeting these chances could be.

This time, she didn’t flinch. She embraced her role with grit and maturity. It wasn’t the Paris fairytale ending but it was proof she belonged on the biggest stage. And with every comeback, every training hour, she’s preparing. Not just to be part of the team but to lead the next one.