Blakely and Caylor Qualified for 2026 World Championships
Skye Blakely and Dulcy Caylor secured their spots on the U.S. team following intensive selection events.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Gymnastics
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Skye Blakely has been named to the five-woman U.S. roster for the 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, with Dulcy Caylor joining as the traveling replacement athlete. The selection comes after competitive trials held on Wednesday and Thursday.
Why it matters
The selection marks a significant achievement for the University of Florida, which remains the only NCAA program to have a gymnast represented on the last three consecutive U.S. World Championship teams. Caylor has deferred her university enrollment until fall 2028 to focus on training for the Olympic Games.
Selection criteria included event results weighted at 60% alongside combined championships results weighted at 40%. Skye Blakely recorded a 14.40 on bars and a 13.25 on beam, while Dulcy Caylor earned a 13.15 on floor.
The players
Skye Blakely
She is a top-tier gymnast who has competed at the World Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Dulcy Caylor
She is a collegiate gymnast who competed at the 2025 World Championships and is currently training for the 2028 Olympics.
University of Florida
This institution is a prominent NCAA program known for its consistent production of elite-level gymnastics talent.
Simone Rose
She is a competitive gymnast who participated in the selection process but did not secure a spot on the World team.
The details
Athletes were permitted to compete in up to two categories to demonstrate their eligibility for the national team. While Skye Blakely and Dulcy Caylor succeeded in earning their spots, competitors like Simone Rose, who scored a 12.95 on bars and a 13.65 on beam, failed to qualify.
Timeline
Wednesday and Thursday: Athletes competed in selection events for team spots.
October 17-25, 2026: The Artistic Gymnastics World Championships take place in Rotterdam.
October 18, 2026: The U.S. team begins competition with Women's Team Qualifications.
October 21, 2026: The Women's Team Final is scheduled.
October 23-25, 2026: Individual event finals will be held.
Season Trajectory
This selection cements the University of Florida's dominance as the only NCAA program to maintain a streak of representation on the last three U.S. World Championship teams. The result signals a continued focus on elite-level consistency as the squad looks toward the 2028 Olympic cycle.
The confirmation of the U.S. roster sets the stage for the upcoming Women's Team Qualifications on October 18. Fans can now look toward the Team Final on October 21 to see if the current lineup can improve upon performances seen in the 2022-2025 cycle.
The takeaway
The successful selection of Blakely and Caylor underscores the growing importance of balancing collegiate careers with elite international competition cycles. Aspiring gymnasts can look to these athletes as examples of how to strategically defer academic enrollment to maximize performance at major global events.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in the sport, explore Gymnastics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wruf.
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