Dulcy Caylor’s steady composure in Crossville turned into a breakthrough moment for the teenage phenom. At the 2025 World Team Selection Event on September 30, Caylor clinched the automatic spot for Team USA with a 55.250 all-around total. Just stepping forward in her elite career, she managed to outpace seasoned contenders like Leanne Wong (55.050) and Joscelyn Roberson (54.900). After her triumphant run, it seems the narrative surrounding her quest in Jakarta is changing.

Beginning with a clean double-twisting Yurchenko that scored 14.250, she ended the showdown with a smile, which she later called “a dream come true.” But securing this trip to Jakarta with her marvelous victory has just elevated the expectations surrounding her as the World Championships draw near.

The anticipation surrounding Caylor’s debut on the world stage has only grown. Following her victory, USA Gymnastics posted a photo on their X handle showing an American flag suspended above the arena, and Caylor can be seen sitting beneath it. The caption read, “📍a picture worth a thousand words—last practice before the World Championships Selection competition where Dulcy Caylor won the automatic spot.” The image mirrored the expectations that the nation and the association have from Caylor as she goes forward to represent her country on the international arena.

Caylor’s rise has been steady. In 2024, she reached the Olympic Trials. This season, she contributed to Team USA’s silver at the Jesolo Trophy in Italy and team gold at the Pan American Championships in Panama, where her Yurchenko double was one of the highlights. Later she finished eighth at the US Championships.

Adding to that, even after the post-Olympic coaching changes at World Championship Centre, she adapted seamlessly. As she herself noted, “It was big news in the gymnastics world!” And, after Cecile and Laurent Landi’s departure, the 17-year-old shared, “I’m always going to be grateful to Cécile and Laurent for everything they’ve done for me. And of course, it was a transition, but overall, yes, it has been working out. It’s been a fun change.”

Caylor has also signed with the Florida Gators as part of the extraordinary Class of 2026 and cannot wait to compete in NCAA gymnastics. And she’s has been aspiring to be a part of Team USA at the 2028 LA Olympics.

How Dulcy Caylor’s early Olympic ambitions already keep her ahead of Simone Biles

Dulcy Caylor has approached gymnastics with a deliberate and focused mindset since her earliest years. Now her only aim is to secure a berth for the upcoming Olympics. From the very beginning, she took every measured step to prove her caliber and navigate the demands of high-level competition. Caylor even acknowledged the breadth of opportunities available to modern gymnasts. She stated, “There’s so many options now, which is great to have, and great to have an open mind with [doing NCAA and Elite].” 

Looking ahead, she made sure that she fixes her aim on what she has been wanting to achieve for the longest of time. “2028 is my main goal. I know there was a joke we made that if I went to the Olympics in 2032, I would still be younger than what Simone (Biles) was this past year,” she shared. In comparison, Simone Biles was 27 when she competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics – and by the time 2032 Olympics knock on the door, Caylor would be 24-years-old. 

As she prepares for the Championships, she kept herself grounded. “I’m incredibly excited and I cannot wait to really show the best that I can be, and be as confident as I can at Championships,” she said.

Away from the gym, Caylor’s motivation sometimes comes from an unlikely source. The Marvel Cinematic universe and one of its characters, the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes . “I’ve made my personality gymnastics, and I love it,” she said. “But I am a Marvel nerd. I own that. And I could probably answer some trivia for you!” And as she prepares for the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, Caylor is all buckled up like her favorite Marvel superheroes.