Joscelyn Roberson has always been quite an out-of-the-box athlete. She has refused to stay down despite her circumstances going against her significantly. Take, for example, 2023 Antwerp. Suffering a brutal ankle injury, Roberson was on the verge of giving up her Olympic dreams. While most doctors ruled her out of the Olympic trials, there she was! Dropping one of the best performances of her life, the Arkansas phenom made her way into the Paris Olympics senior team. And now, as the new gymnastics season awaits, Roberson is looking to blossom further, keeping her never-back-down mentality intact. 

She was a member of Simone Biles’ World Champions Center gym so far. However, in recent times, she has left the facility, wanting to explore more of her potential outside. Joining the Arkansas gym, Roberson revealed training under the guidance of Chris Brooks. At the moment, her initial goal is to return to the mainstream competition at the US Classics, scheduled to take place on July 19. She also made it clear that by the time the Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships arrive, she must be ready to compete on all four apparatuses. 

And in order to accomplish her goals, Roberson has just the perfect mentor she needed. Speaking about her new coach, the Olympian stated, “He(Chris Brooks) was so excited about it. He’s so pumped. I just love having that in the gym every day, just the same excitement that I have about Elite gymnastics. He has the exact same excitement and is ready to go on this journey with me.” While she has been a natural talent since her childhood, it is important for Roberson to focus and channel her talent to bring out the best from within. And thus, the young gymnast wants the entire year to be about herself. 

“This year is more just for me and just getting back out there more than anything else,” Roberson said. She further added, “Just to have fun with it and see how the transition works more or less than anything else.” Well, she is leaving no stones unturned to make herself the best version this year. Putting stress on the bigger skills at least once a week, Roberson is back to training 28 hours in a week! Meanwhile, as the Olympian is looking to further extend her legacy, Joscelyn Roberson’s gritty mentality was on full display when she was selected as a backup for Paris. 

Joscelyn Roberson turns heartbreak into purpose as Paris Olympic alternate

Joscelyn Roberson didn’t flinch when her Olympic role was defined—not as a member of the final five, but as one of two traveling alternates for Team USA. After months of doubt and physical pain, she had clawed her way back to the elite stage, only to find herself just on the edge of the Paris dream. And yet, her reaction was not one of disappointment, but quiet determination.

“I wanted to really embrace whatever role I was put in,” Roberson said. She admitted that being named an alternate was tough—but made it clear she doesn’t want sympathy. Instead of being seen as the gymnast who narrowly missed the team, she hopes to be recognized as someone fully committed to supporting her teammates and ready to step in at a moment’s notice.

She knows the fragility of opportunity all too well. Roberson had to step aside at last year’s world championships after a last-minute injury, throwing teammate Leanne Wong into the lineup. Now, she’s learned just how quickly roles can reverse—and how vital it is to be ready.

“I have to be ready to go in at any point… even if they’re all looking seemingly perfect,” Roberson said. She further added, “Because anything can happen at any point.” In a role that demands both humility and readiness, Roberson is proving she’s exactly where she needs to be.