“I don’t want to rush,” Skye Blakely said back in May. “I want to take my time, all-Around would be cool, but I also know that, first and foremost, I want to feel good and I want my body to be healthy.” It’s a grounded perspective — and understandable, coming from someone who’s already missed out on two Olympic Games. In 2021, it was an elbow injury that knocked her out of the Trials. Then last year, she tore her Achilles during podium training, which forced her to withdraw again. Since then, Skye’s been focused on recovery. She kicked off her freshman year with the Florida Gators, consistently landing a spot in the bars lineup and even scoring a career-high 9.95. Now, she’s shifting her focus back to elite gymnastics, rebuilding her skills, and hoping to make her return in 2025. But…

Back in May, Skye Blakely showed up at the USAG National Camp alongside big names like Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Joscelyn Roberson, Hezly Rivera, Tiana Sumanasekera, and more. Now, all of them are set to compete at the US Classic this weekend in Illinois — except for Blakely. But is her absence a big deal? Not really. According to Scott Bergman’s update, Skye’s petition to compete at the US Nationals has already been approved. So, is it not a victory for Skye Blakely? 

In a recent chat with Olympics.com, Skye Blakely opened up about her goals in elite gymnastics this season. She looked back on that tough moment when she got injured at the US Olympic Trials, saying, “It was definitely devastating in the moment, knowing just how hard I had worked to get there and how ready I felt.” But instead of letting that break her, she’s using it as fuel. “I don’t want to give up on the dream I already had for myself. I just want to get back healthy and work toward it again,” she said. At the time, though, she hadn’t picked a specific meet for her comeback yet.

But now, Skye Blakely is locked in. The Texas native knows exactly where her comeback begins — she’s heading straight for the US Nationals. If things go well, she could even make a run at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships later this year. And of course, the long game? That’s LA 2028. The big question: can she pull off a phenomenal comeback this year? 

Skye Blakely is determined to make changes 

Skye Blakely didn’t go through rehab alone — her Florida teammate Kayla DiCello, who also tore her Achilles at the US Trials, became a key support system. Having someone who understood the grind made the tough days a little easier. Looking back, Skye admitted, “Knowing that I was that close, I don’t want to give up.” She also told Inside Gymnastics that the trials experience taught her a lot: “It’s definitely taught me resilience and perseverance as well as knowing to push myself and not to give up, and knowing that I know how to navigate around obstacles of any sorts, injuries or things in the gym or out the gym, it’s just taught me so much, and I feel like it’s made me a stronger person.”

That strength is exactly what Skye Blakely is carrying into her next chapter. Sure, she’s skipping the US Classic — but that’s not the prize she’s after. She’s waiting for the bigger stage. And when she steps up, she’s planning to make it count.