At just 15, this gymnast lit up the 2023 Pan American Championships in Medellín, making a dazzling senior debut. She surged to all‑around gold with a commanding 53.900, outpacing Mexico’s 53.266 and Canada’s 52.867. A trainee at the World Champions Centre—just like Simone Biles—she nailed vault (13.933), bars (12.633), beam (13.767), and floor (13.567). So when the 2025 Pan Am gymnastics rolled around, fans were looking forward to her repeating history. But this time, the gymnast didn’t go all around; she only competed at the balance beam. Why was that?

Before the Pan Am championships, a story went up on Tiana Sumanasekera’s Instagram that read,” Hi😊 Earlier this week I had a short landing on floor that caused a minor ankle injury: I am very saddened by this, as I have been working so hard to competefully again, but am very fortunate that it is nothing bad. I will still be competing beam, and I am so grateful and excited to be doing so. I am resting it well so I can compete to the best of my ability: Grateful to be a part of this amazing team and so excited for this weekend.” The gymnast confirmed on June 12, 2025, that she’s dealing with a minor ankle injury and will only compete on beam at Pan Ams. It has been a week since. How’s she now?

Inside Gymnastics Magazine made a post on June 19, 2025, to announce the latest update on Simone Biles’ training partner’s health. Posting a picture of the gymnast snapped from her floor routine, they wrote over it, “I landed short on one of my tumbling passes on floor and sprained a ligament and tendon in my ankle. I am so thankful it is nothing bad. I am doing a lot of rehab for my ankle and hoping for a speedy recovery – Tiana Sumanasekera on Injury recovery“.

They also wrote in their caption, “Tiana Sumanasekera tells Inside Gymnastics that she is recovering well from an injury sustained at the Pan American Championships. We are wishing Tiana the best in her recovery!” Despite the injury, the 17-year-old gymnast went up on the apparatus. For the team final, she competed only on balance beam, scoring 13.367, contributing to the team total of 164.765, finishing well ahead of Canada and Brazil, claiming the gold. Not going all-around at the Pan Ams, especially after her 2023 dominance, was a setback, but one she handled with maturity.

Individually, as well, she scored 13.567 on the Balance beam. Missing this competition might not have been on the cards for the 17-year-old gymnast as she already has had one setback in early 2025, and she might not want to add another to the list just yet. What went down in February?

Tiana Sumanasekera’s 2025 comeback is a must

The 2025 Winter Cup was held from February 21–23, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC). The event took place in Freedom Hall within the KICC complex. Tiana Sumanasekera was once again expected to perform big time at the competition. But the 17-year-old gymnast decided to sit this one out, leaving fans frustrated. But why did she do it? Hint– it wasn’t an injury.

She first made headlines in 2022 when she placed ninth in the junior all-around at the U.S. Championships. In a conversation with Olmypics.com, the teenager stated, “So, just being able to do it every day made myself happy and my heart happy.” She continued, “Just knowing that I’ve come this far is something that makes me so incredibly proud and emotional.” So it was never about the results but the sheer joy of the gymnastics that she enjoyed. And that is why she did not participate in the 2025 Winter Cup.

On February 22, 2025, Inside Gymnastics Magazine reported on the reason for the gymnast’s absence from the winter cup through an Instagram post. “My coaches and I decided it was best to withdraw from the Winter Cup as I was not feeling my best. I am looking forward to the upcoming competitions. Thank you all for the love and support,” the 17-year-old them.