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Florida Gators gymnast Kayla DiCello won the Pan American Games All-Around Gold for artistic gymnastics on Monday. With the help of DiCello, the U.S. won its sixth consecutive Pan Am Games team gold. With a score of 54.699, DiCello narrowly defeated Brazilian Flavia Saraiva’s 54.565. DiCello’s teammate, Team USA’s Jordan Chiles, won bronze at 53.999.
https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1716595881435386036
DiCello is the first American Pan Am Games all-around gold medalist in artistic gymnastics since former Gator Bridgette Caquatto won in 2011. Florida freshman Anya Pilgrim also competed in the Pan Am Games, placing 18th overall for Barbados. In addition to her two gold medals from the Pan Am Games, DiCello won gold on Oct. 4 as a member of the United States 2023 World Championships team.
What’s Next for Kayla DiCello?
Wednesday, DiCello competes in the balance beam and floor exercise event finals in the Pan Am Games.
Despite her incredible year with the Gators in 2023, DiCello is taking a gap year in 2024 to train for the Paris Olympics. The Gators, who finished as runners-ups in the 2023 NCAA Gymnastics Championships Finals, will look to repeat their 2023 success without one of their best performers. DiCello announced that she will be back competing for the Gators’ 2025 season.
https://twitter.com/kayladicello/status/1651587268249829377
DiCello has an abundance of accolades since joining the Gators gymnastics team in the 2023 season. In her first season with the Gators, the five-time All-American was the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year. She secured All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman team honors. Additionally, she was SEC Freshman of the Week eight times and SEC Specialist of the Week once, winning 12 event titles in her first season with the Gators.
