Many NCAA gymnasts are Olympic hopefuls, and some even sit out a year to prepare for the games. Jordan Chiles and Skye Blakley did so for Paris, and they lost no eligibility.

In June, the NCAA passed a new eligibility rule that eliminates redshirts and medical waivers. Athletes now have five years of eligibility in a five year window, starting after their 19th birthday or when they enroll full-time, whichever comes first. This period runs continuously, but pauses when a student is on a religious mission, on military service or becomes pregnant.

So if a gymnast decides to defer for the LA games, they will lose two years. However, the class of 2026 lucked out, as the rule goes into effect in 2027, meaning they will only lose one year of eligibility. Some gymnasts have taken advantage of this and announced their intentions to defer to prepare for the games.

Dulcy Caylor was the first gymnast to declare that she is deferring her enrollment in November 2025, seven months before the new eligibility rule passed. In an Instagram post, the future Florida Gator said she will continue her training in Spring, Texas, at the World Champion Centre.

If you watched the 2024 U.S Olympic trials, then you might be familiar with Hezly Rivera. At 16 years old, she tied for first on the balance beam and finished fifth in the all-around, which guaranteed her spot on the Olympic team. At Paris, she competed on the balance beam and uneven bars during the qualification rounds, and walked away with a team final gold despite not competing.

Now two years later, Rivera is training to make another Olympic team. Committed to LSU, she plans to continue training at her home gym, World Olympic Gymnastics Academy for two years, and will enroll after the games.

Another future LSU Tiger plans to defer, and will not lose any eligibility due to her birthday. Tatum Drusch, who will turn 19 in November 2027, won the all-around in the American Classic over Jade Carey. Tatum told 

that her goal is to compete in the all-around at the Olympics, or compete on beam or bars if she fails to qualify in the all-around.

Florida signee Jayla Hang will train for the Olympics at Pacific Reign, the same gym where Katlyn Ohashi is training for her comeback. Along with Hang, Madison Denlinger will also defer and continue preparation at the same gym instead of competing for Utah, but her case is unique.

Every gymnast deferring is a senior Elite, except for Denlinger. Athletes need this status to make an Olympic team, as it is the highest level of gymnastics in the US. Gymnasts must qualify in an Elite Compulsory meet and then score a certain threshold at an Elite Optional or National Qualifier meet to be considered Elite. There have been two Qualifier meets this year, and a total four out of 29 gymnasts have met the score to move up. 

Denlinger has plans to make the leap. She competed and qualified in an Elite Compulsory meet, and has yet to compete in an Optional or National Qualifier meet. But in the meantime, she has been training her Elite skills.

But the one thing they all have in common is that they are all chasing a spot on the US team. The numbers change every Olympic quad, but between 12-19 gymnasts compete in the U.S. Olympic trials. There are five spots up for grabs on the team and there will be two spots for traveling replacements, and up to three for non-traveling replacements.

No international gymnast has deferred, and there probably will not be any, especially since the school year has already started. The new eligibility rule eliminates Olympic redshirt waivers, so this was the best period for freshmen who aspire to compete at the next games to defer.

With that, a total of five gymnasts are taking a risk to chase after their Olympic aspirations. The U.S. Olympic Trials will take place in Louisville, KY from June 16-19 and we might see them get one step closer to living out their dream.

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NCAA Gymnasts Make Sacrifices Under New Eligibility Rules

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