Imagine 17-year-young, a gymnastics prodigy standing on the mat at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Her heart must have been pounding with dreams of Paris. After grilling sessions, she finished eighth all-around with a score of 56.1, truly showcasing her incredible self-choreographed floor routine – a perfect blend of artistry and raw power. But then, the news came: non-traveling alternate for the Paris Olympics. The sting of falling just short was absolutely brutal. At such a young age, the Sri Lankan-American gymnast found herself at a crossroads, her Olympic aspirations momentarily deferred. How do you even begin to move forward after a blow like that?

“Obviously, I was really disappointed,” Tiana Sumanasekera admitted to Olympics.com. “I worked really hard to try to make the team, and coming up short was really hard for me to accept. I took a break after Trials.” That pause turned out to be pivotal. Stepping away from the intense world of elite gymnastics, she grappled with a fading spark, the sheer joy of the sport dimmed by heartbreak.

Yet, in that quiet time, she found remarkable clarity. “I feel like that really helped me mentally,” she explained. “I had to refocus and set some new goals, and I really feel like I’ve been able to come back stronger this year.” Her candid confession truly speaks to the resilience every athlete needs when facing defeat. But what would her next move be?

Her break saw her head to Paris to watch the competition. And she used it to push herself to perform better. “[It] was a really cool experience. Even though I wasn’t competing, just being there and seeing all the athletes and the environment made me even more motivated. I was like, ‘I want to be here next time – but as an athlete.’ So that kind of helped me get back into the gym and train hard again. I needed that break to just refresh and refocus because I was very mentally exhausted.” 

Now, Tiana’s gaze is firmly set on redemption. She’s back in the gym for the 2025 Pan American Championships in Panama City, happening June 12-15, are her immediate focus where she’ll competing alongside teammates like Hezly Rivera.

But her sights are also firmly fixed on something bigger: LA28, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Imagine the chance to shine on home soil! With a 2023 Pan American gold already under her belt, Tiana’s hunger is palpable. Can she channel this renewed fire into a triumphant return? How is she preparing for her goals?

Sumanasekera comes up with new coaches to make the journey afresh

After making the big move from California to Texas to train at Simone Biles’ World Champions Centre, she hit a major curveball: her head coaches, Laurent and Cecile Landi, left, with Cecile now rocking it as co-head coach at the University of Georgia.

But in stepped Patrick Wiencek and Daymon Jones, Tiana’s new mentors. “Of course, for any gymnast, a big coaching change is a big deal,” Tiana openly said. Yet, instead of letting it derail her, she’s totally embracing the shift. So, what is it about this new chapter that’s sparking such incredible new fire in her?

A Fresh Start Fuels New Routines You might think a coaching change would slow someone down, but not Tiana! She’s been busy crafting brand-new routines, including a dazzling uneven bars sequence that features a fluid Shaposhnikova into a Ricna. She’s also got a newly constructed balance beam exercise she’s excited about.

Her confidence seems to be soaring, thanks to her coaches’ deep knowledge of the sport’s intricate scoring system and their eye for artistry. “They’re so knowledgeable,” she shared. “They have a lot to bring to the table, and I think that’s working for us.” As she gears up for the 2025 Pan American Championships, it’s clear Tiana is rediscovering her passion all over again. Can these new guides be the ones to lead her straight to LA28 glory?