Skye Blakely has taken over gymnastics worlds. Four medals later, she's not done.
· Yahoo Sports
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Skye Blakely is as good at compartmentalizing as she is at gymnastics.
Less than 24 hours after winning the all-around title at the world gymnastics championships, Blakely added two more to her collection with bronzes on vault and uneven bars Saturday, Oct. 24. Blakely also has a silver from the team competition, making her four-for-four at these worlds.
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Only Simone Biles has won more medals at a single world championships. Nastia Liukin and Rebecca Bross also won four medals at a single worlds.
"Truly just a dream come true to be amongst so many great gymnasts, big names," Blakely said. "To know that I’m a part of that, it’s just a reflection of all the hard work I’ve really been putting in this year and the people who have supported me and my mindset truly at these world championships.
"That’s an amazing stat to be a part of," she added, smiling broadly.
And Blakely might not be done! She has the balance beam final still to come Sunday, Oct. 25.
Skye Blakely is taking gymnastics worlds by storm
Fred Richard won gold on floor exercise, the first U.S. man to win that title since Paul Hamm in 2003. Claire Pease won a silver on vault, her first individual medal.
But these worlds have quickly become Blakely's party.
After delivering the U.S. women their 15th all-around title at the world championships, Blakely said she was going to allow herself the rest of the night to celebrate. Which is exactly what she did. She saw her mom at the hotel and savored her accomplishment.
She did manage to get seven hours of sleep. When she woke up, the time for celebrating was over and it was back to work.
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How Skye Blakely won bronze on vault and uneven bars
Blakely's vaults have been clean throughout the competition and the final was no different. She had a hop back on her first vault, a double-twisting Yurchenko, then a very tiny hop on her second vault, the Lopez. Her combined score of 14.166 put her in first, but there were still five gymnasts to go — including Brazil's Rebeca Andrade, already a two-time world champion on vault.
Andrade did, indeed, pass Blakely. So did Pease, with Blakely cheering her younger teammate on from the sidelines.
Then it was onto uneven bars. Defending world and Olympic champion Kaylia Nemour's routine was predictably stunning, filled with intricate releases and transitions, and her score of 15.333 was going to be tough for anyone to beat.
Blakely's routine was solid, with impeccably pointed toes and perfect lines. Her 14.6 put her in second place until Germany's Helen Kevric, the European champion on uneven bars, bumped Blakely down one spot.
But when France's Elena Colas landed her dismount low and pitched forward, the bronze medal was Blakely's.
"Bars is my favorite event," she said. "So to be able to just have fun and have the score match that, really focus on my handstands and just share that moment with (coach Owen Field), too, I couldn’t ask for anything more."
Skye Blakely still has another medal chance at gymnastics worlds
Blakely won't let it distract her, though. Just like after the all-around final, she said she'll take the night to celebrate before putting her game face back on one last time.
"I feel like it’s truly been where my head is at. Being really present and just truly believing in myself and not getting ahead of myself," Blakely said of her success here. "I try not to focus too much on the outcome or what I want to achieve. Moreso what I put into it, and then the outcome will come."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Skye Blakely has taken over gymnastics worlds. Four medals later, she's not done.