Just months after her exceptional silver medal performance behind gymnastics superstar Simone Biles at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln’s Paris Olympic dreams hit a potential roadblock at the final major meet before June’s Olympic Trials.
Lincoln’s journey on the mat has been nothing short of remarkable. However, in a surprising turn of events, she has put a sudden pause to her ascending career by withdrawing from the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships after the first two rotations and petitioning for a Trials spot. This unexpected development raises questions about whether Lincoln, will be in peak form as she vies for one of the coveted spots for Paris.
“Kaliya Lincoln has withdrawn from the second day of #XfinityChamps and has petitioned to compete at Olympic Trials” read the X post by USA Gymnastics. Lincoln’s surprise exit robs her of valuable qualification points and casts a cloud over her Trials readiness just weeks out. The Xfinity meet had been her final chance to boost her national team claims before the Paris 2024 roster is finalized at Trials on June 27-30.
The teen starlet had been dubbed Biles’ likely successor after matching the GOAT’s senior career with a senior debut at the 2023 Winter Cup, continuing at the 2023 U.S. Classic and the 2023 National Championships. But Lincoln may now be forced to watch from home after her untimely Xfinity withdrawal. USA Gymnastics stayed tight-lipped on the specifics behind her withdrawal, offering no update on potential injuries or other issues.
Lincoln started her journey under the mentorship of her idol, US Gymnastics icon Gabby Douglas, when Lincoln was just 12. Her journey with Gabby Douglas began after she first saw the three-time Olympic champion during a TV show. They later met, and Douglas was the one who inspired Lincoln to dream about gymnastics.
After 2021, an unfortunate condition resulted in a two-year-long break from international competition for Kaliya Lincoln. Kaliya Lincoln’s recent performance at the National Training Centre showcased her exceptional skills and further cemented her status as a top contender. Her dazzling 6.5-floor routine at the World Gymnastics Championships Selection Camp garnered widespread acclaim on social media.
Fans highlighted her as a key player for Team USA. Netizens even crowned her with the title “Second Simone Biles”. With her impressive record, including two gold medals at the 2023 Pan American Games, Lincoln’s withdrawal might be signaling not a retreat but a strategic pivot as she aims for Olympic glory.
Shortly after the Xfinity gymnastics competition concluded on June 2, Sunday evening, USA Gymnastics announced that they approved Kaliya Lincoln’s petition to take part in the upcoming U.S. Olympic trials scheduled for later this month. It is anticipated that Lincoln will join Simone Biles, Skye Blakely, as well as 13 other gymnasts at the trials, which will commence on June 27th in the city of Minneapolis.
