No Matter Her Path, Tampa Bay Will Be a Launching Pad for Kayla DiCello
When DiCello arrives at the OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Aug. 18-21, she will compete alongside most of the American contenders for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
By Joey Johnston
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Many gymnastics observers believe the future belongs to Kayla DiCello. But what is that future exactly? And when will it begin?
When DiCello arrives at the OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Aug. 18-21, she will compete alongside most of the American contenders for the 2024 Paris Olympics. After that weekend, she heads two hours north on Interstate 75 to begin her freshman year at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
“That’s very convenient,’’ said DiCello, 18, with a laugh.
Conveniences are welcomed for DiCello, who otherwise faces some difficult decisions. Does she pour all her energies into helping the national runner-up Gators capture the program’s fourth NCAA championship? Or does she continue to maximize her international competition opportunities while also representing UF, effectively living in both worlds?
“Kayla has already indicated that doesn’t wasn’t to close the door on 2024 (Paris Olympics),’’ Gators coach Jenny Rowland said. “Whatever that looks like … we are here to support her in any way that we can.’’
Originally, DiCello planned to enroll for UF’s “Summer B’’ session at the end of June. But about six weeks ago, DiCello sent a text message for Rowland.
Can you give me a call? I’d like to chat with you about something.
“I’ve gotten those kind of messages before,’’ Rowland said. “She said she really wanted to train for the U.S. Championships (and not start school until August). That was not a shocker. I wanted to be sure it was a good thing for her physically because she was coming off an injury (back). But she said she felt great.
“She said, ‘I feel like I have more to give, so I want to try.’ Of course, I was like, ‘Yes, go for it!’ She’s so talented and she has such a strong mindset. So driven. When she sets her mind on something, she’s going to have success.’’
DiCello, a National Team member for three years who finished second in floor exercise at the U.S. Championships and third in all-around at the World Championships during 2021, doesn’t yet feel the need to commit to a specific direction. Her performance in Tampa could provide clues.
“Kayla has the potential to have so much in front of her, depending on what she decides to do,’’ said Christy Sandmaier, co-publisher of Inside Gymnastics magazine. “I know she is so excited to compete for the Gators. She’s really taking her Elite career one competition at a time right now.
“She feels like she can contribute to the World Championships team and compete for the U.S. while she’s at Florida. If it’s not the right thing, then she will take a step back and see what she can balance. I feel she is capable of that. She has so much experience and so many accolades on her resume right now. But so much of her story has yet to be written.’’
There is precedent if DiCello, a native of Boyds, Maryland, chooses to live an extended double life.
It’s still rare for a gymnast to attend college and also compete for the U.S. Senior National team. But the approach has changed slightly. Current college standouts such as Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey (Oregon State) and Leanne Wong (Florida) are expected to participate in Tampa.
UF also features Trinity Thomas, the reigning NCAA all-around champion, who earned a spot on the U.S. Senior National team in 2019 and had designs on the 2021 Olympic Trials prior to Tokyo. But she sprained both ankles and her training was disrupted. Thomas, with one more season of UF eligibility, hasn’t closed the door on chasing the 2024 Paris Olympics.
There’s also the case of Mykayla Skinner, who left Utah after her junior season in 2019 to pursue a spot on the 2020 Olympic team (which was extended to 2021 due to COVID). Skinner earned a silver medal on the vault but did not return to Utah to finish her collegiate eligibility.
“I am keeping my options open,’’ DiCello said. “Just taking it one day at a time, seeing how everything goes. Competing in Tampa means I can show everything that I’ve worked for the entire year and show that I can handle myself against this high competition. When I get to college, I’m looking forward to creating a bond with all my teammates, competing in front of thousands of people and hopefully winning a national championship.’’
Is it possible to take a circuitous route from Tampa to Paris … and thrive in college gymnastics? It’s rare, but not unprecedented.
“Kayla doesn’t have to make any hard-and-fast decisions right now,’’ Rowland said. “For a student-athlete, this can be incredibly challenging. But we’ve seen first-hand that it can work. If Kayla’s dream, desire and commitment is all there — and that’s how she’s wired — then she’s going to make it all work.
“What’s it going to look like? What’s going to happen and when? I can’t tell you that. What I do know is Kayla is super sweet, humble, hard-working and incredibly talented. I feel confident in saying that whatever she puts her mind to, she’s going to accomplish. And when she’s competing in Tampa with Leanne (Wong), too, we’ll be there in our orange and blue, cheering them on.’’