For the first time ever, the University of Arkansas’ gymnastics program will be represented by an athlete at the Olympic Games. Joscelyn Roberson, an incoming freshman from Texarkana, Texas, was named as a traveling replacement athlete for the Paris 2024 games on Sunday night.
Roberson, who competed across two days at the Olympic Trials in Minneapolis, placed sixth overall, earning a combined score of 110.975. The future Razorback finished in fourth place on vault and floor, and tied for first on beam.
Nine athletes were named to the team or as alternates, and seven of them are committed to NCAA programs, including four from SEC schools, including Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and LSU.
Leanne Wong from Florida, also named as a traveling alternate, will head to Paris with Roberson. As traveling alternates, both Wong and Roberson can be called to replace an athlete for Team USA up until the start of the team qualification competition, which will take place on Sunday, July 28.
Arkansas Razorbacks Head Coach Jordyn Wieber and assistant coaches Chris Brooks and Kyla Ross have all also competed in the Olympic Games. Wieber and Ross were both part of the Fierce Five in London in 2012, and Chris Brooks competed in 2012 and 2016.
On July 28, women’s artistic gymnastics will kick off with team qualifications and the team final will take place on July 30. The women’s all-around final will take place Aug. 1, and event finals will take place as follows: vault on Aug. 3, bars on Aug. 4, and beam and floor on Aug. 5.
Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics
Here is the complete roster for Team USA – Women’s Artistic Gymnastics 2024:
- Simone Biles – World Champions Centre
- Jade Carey – Oregon State
- Jordan Chiles – World Champions Centre
- Sunisa Lee – Midwest Gymnastics
- Hezly Rivera – WOGA
- Traveling alternates: Roberson and Wong
- Non-traveling alternates: Kaliya Lincoln – WOGA and Tiana Sumanasekera – World Champions Centre
For more information about Roberson, view her athlete profile on USA Gymnastics. To keep up with all things Razorback Gymbacks, click here.
Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics
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