From June 27 to 30, 2024, the Target Center in Minneapolis became the arena where America’s best gymnasts fought for their golden ticket to Paris. The Olympic Trials were underway in the arena. Fresh off her bronze in the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, this gymnast stepped onto the floor with only one ambition in her eyes. Ace it here and then ace it in Paris. But as destiny would have it, this Florida Gator gymnast did leap, but she fell. During her vault attempt, she could perform the cartwheel onto the table, but could not twist her body in the air. After flipping once, she then landed on the mat and calmly let herself fall. The next time we saw her was her being carried out by a medical team. 

That gymnast in question is none other than Kayla DiCello. Once an Olympic alternate and now a consistent presence on national podiums, DiCello’s 2024 performance reminded fans why she remains a major force in U.S. gymnastics. Her routines at the Xfinity Championships reflected not only her technical skill but also a resilience that’s come to define her career, especially in light of what happened less than a year prior.

Earlier this week, Inside Gymnastics magazine took to Instagram with a striking announcement: an image of Kayla DiCello holding a bouquet, overlaid with a shot of her mid-split leap, and the headline: “KAYLA DICELLO WILL NOT COMPETE ELITE THIS SEASON” on their Instagram on May 15, 2025. Their caption read, “➡️➡️➡️ Kayla DiCello, the 2024 US All-Around bronze medalist, tells Inside Gymnastics magazine she will not compete Elite this season as she continues her recovery journey from a torn Achilles suffered at last year‘s Olympic Trials”.It was during her vault attempt at the Trials that disaster struck—DiCello was unable to complete the routine and landed on her back, only to later confirm a grave injury.

She was immediately tended to by medical staff and carried off the competition floor, and it was revealed that she had, in fact, torn her Achilles tendon. The post further said, “DiCello has established herself as one of the most accomplished American gymnasts of her generation, earning an Olympic alternate spot for the 2020 Games and shortly after, winning the bronze medal in the All-Around at the 2021 World Championship. ” Other than this, Kayla is the first U.S. woman to win all-around gold at the Pan American games since 2011.

In the 2023 Pan American Games, she had an all-around score of 54.699, thanks to posting the highest scores of the evening on uneven bars (13.633) and floor exercise (13.733) and scoring 13.200 on balance beam and 14.133 on vault. Inside Gymnastics concluded their post with, “The Florida Gator is considered one of the most stylish gymnasts in the world and has consistently earned a spot in Inside Gymnastics magazine’s 50 Most Artistic issue. We wish her well and her continued recovery!” She scored a pair of perfect 10s and earned 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year honors while helping the Gators finish second in the nation in her first year as a Gator.

The injury had left the fans shocked. But missing out on the completion isn’t the only thing that this injury would cost her. She had to get better to return to gymnastics, unfortunately, what that asked for was not a surgery but surgeries.

The cost of returning to gymnastics: Two surgeries

“As I begin my healing journey, I’m thankful for your prayers and good wishes. This is not the end of my story.” This was the part of her caption when she first announced that she had torn her Achilles tendon. Recovery from the repair typically involves immobilization, physical therapy, and a gradual return to high-impact activities, with an expected recovery period of six to twelve months. So when she got her first surgery in the summer of 2024, it was frustrating. “I was really upset because I couldn’t compete this year, but for me, I think getting the second surgery was something that eased my mind,” she said in an interview with Olympics.com.

But the real pain didn’t come because of her first surgery, this was due to her second one. In December 2024, the gymnast took to her Instagram to announce that talk about her recovery. “This year I’m asking Santa for two new feet! I’m so grateful to have been able to slowly take steps back into doing what I love. Unfortunately, I had another surgery. Everyone has a different journey in life, and this is the plan God has for me. I’ll be back in the gym again soon. 🤍“. What is notable is that she tore the tendon in the right foot, but this surgery took place in her left foot. Why?

She gave the answer on TikTok. She said, “This [the injury on her left foot] was something that I had been dealing with for like, I don’t know, maybe three years. And so I kind of saw this as like my opportunity to get it done while I’m recovering the other one.” She underwent her surgery in December last year to remove a bone spur, the procedure meant DiCello would miss the entire NCAA season.

Now, as she continues to recover, all eyes are on 2026—will it be the year Kayla DiCello finally makes her return?