On Friday night in St. Louis, Missouri, University of Utah gymnast MyKayla Skinner turned in a great performance on the first day of the U.S. Olympic Trials, scoring a 56.598 to put her in fourth place entering Sunday’s second and final day of competition.
Skinner did not speak to media after the meet, but commentator and 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin said, speaking of Skinner, that it was “the best meet of her entire life.”
On Saturday morning, Skinner took to Instagram to share her feelings about Friday’s meet.
Quoting English writer Lewis Carroll, Skinner wrote “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take,” then added, “So grateful I took the chance to come back after all I’ve been through. What a great first night. Thank you everyone for the love. Can’t wait to finish strong tomorrow.”
“All I’ve been through” for Skinner includes in the last year alone an Achilles injury and being hospitalized with pneumonia after contracting COVID-19.
But now the 24-year-old — definitely up there in years by Olympic gymnastics standards — is knocking on the door of a berth in Tokyo. She’ll probably need to put forth another meet Sunday of the caliber she did Friday to have a chance, as only the top two are guaranteed a spot on Team USA, plus two spots at the discretion of a committee plus one individual berth.
Simone Biles leads the way by a big distance heading into Sunday, followed by Sunisa Lee. Jordan Chiles is in third.
Sunday’s meet begins at 6 p.m. MT.