Skye Blakely makes her feelings known on making her NCAA debut months after her withdrawal from Olympic Trials

Skye Blakely expressed her gratitude after making her NCAA debut for the 2025 season for the Florida Gators. Her debut at the collegiate circuit came after the gymnast, citing an injury, withdrew from the 2024 Olympic Trials.

She bagged silver medals in individual all-around and vault after placing behind legendary gymnast Simone Biles at the 2024 National Championships, grabbing a spot for the Trials. However, her campaign in the U.S. Olympic Trials failed to start as the gymnast endured a fall during podium training on the floor.

The 19-year-old was seen executing a double layout when she fumbled and ruptured her right Achilles tendon. Blakely was carried off the mat and assisted in exiting the arena in a wheelchair. Months after the incident and a follow-up surgery, the gymnast returned to the sport for the NCAA debut.

She is competing for the Gators Gymnastics after having signed with the team in 2022. Following her debut at the Quad Meet against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Northern Illinois on Friday, January 10, 2024, at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Blakely conveyed her gratitude and reflected on her recovery journey.

"199 days after rupturing my Achilles, I was able to make my NCAA debut as a gator! so extremely blessed and grateful for God to allow me to experience this moment," Blakely wrote. "This recovery has had many tears, a lot of hard work, patience, and growing. My parents, teammates, coaches, medical staff, and all of the gator staff have helped me get to this moment. I’m still on the road to full recovery and only up from here🥹💙🐊"

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Skye Blakely reveals how she prepared for her NCAA debut after surgery

Skye Blakely during the 2024 Core Hydration Gymnastics Classic in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo via Getty Images)

Following her NCAA debut, Skye Blakely reflected on her recovery process after the surgery, which she underwent on July 3, 2024. She explained that she worked hard to regain her strength and skills and also reflected on the moment she was ready to return to the sport.

"It was a couple of weeks after surgery, I knew I wanted to be back by the first meet of the season," Blakely said. "Small steps forward led to getting closer and closer to having the full bar routine. But I think when I really knew in my head was last Friday [with first landing on hard surface]. I've been working really hard and it's been coming together nicely. [When I hit that landing], I knew I was ready to be out there." (via.floridagators.com)

Skye Blakely displayed a remarkable bars routine on her collegiate debut, collecting 9.725 points. The Florida Gators emerged victorious at their first meet after bagging 196.675 points to defeat Michigan State, Nebraska, and Northern Illinois, who settled with 196.65, 195.60, and 191.95, respectively.