Olympics Bound: Germantown HS Senior Named Gymnastics Alternate

GERMANTOWN, MD — A rising senior at Northwest High School will head to Tokyo this summer as an alternate for Team USA women's gymnastics.

Kayla DiCello, a 17-year-old from Boyds, has been training at Hill's Gymnastics since she enrolled in a Mommy and Me gymnastics class when she was two, according to her Team USA profile. The young gymnast is 2021 a U.S. floor exercise silver medalist and a 2020 American Cup silver medalist.

DiCello's favorite routine is on the bars, she's a fan of country music, "Grey's Anatomy" and "Friends," and steak, according to her profile.

DiCello could compete at the Olympic Games if one of Team USA's gymnasts gets hurt.

The team this year is comprised on Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum. Jade Carey and MyKayla Skinner will compete as individuals. Kara Eaker, Emma Malabuyo and Leanne Wong will serve as alternates alongside DiCello. The team was decided at the conclusion of the Olympic Trials in St. Louis this past Sunday.

The U.S. women's gymnastics team has been undefeated in Olympic and world championship team competitions since they won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics, according to Team USA, for a total of seven wins. The Olympic Gold medal for individual competition in women's gymnastics has gone to a United States athlete since 2004, when Carly Patterson won.

The Olympic Games will start on July 23. They were scheduled for 2020, but had to be delayed due to the pandemic. Before last year, the Games had only been canceled because of World Wars.

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