Olympian Joscelyn Roberson Skips Elite Competition in 2026 Amid Injury Concerns
August 27, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Joscelyn Roberson during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY
August 27, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Joscelyn Roberson during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY
While all eyes trailed Joscelyn Roberson’s next move, the Olympian revealed why the Elite competition will not be one of her destinations this year.
Winning World championships, multiple SEC accolades or being a traveling alternate for the Olympics, Roberson's portfolio is stacked. But this year, an ankle injury will keep her from competing on the elite level.
“The goal is to train elite this year. But not to compete… because my ankles were an issue last year,” she explained to Gymnastics Now’s Patricia Duffy recently. “We’ll hit the ground heavy and running next year for Worlds, and then the Olympics. (This year,) I’ll train elite, I just won’t compete in it.”
After clinching team gold from the 2023 World Championship and an individual bronze in 2025, Roberson’s primary goals are an NCAA title and the Olympics. But before that leap, 2026 will be her “small break.”
Per Duffy, the 20-year-old is “absolutely in the mix for LA (2028 LA Olympics), especially if she’s 100%.” But the lingering ankle injury will limit her from giving that 100%. Hence, getting healthy remains the priority.
But once the respite is over and she’s back to action, Roberson will not be hitting the mat to win an NCAA title for the Arkansas Razorbacks anymore.
Joscelyn Roberson Is Transferring to Georgia
The Texas-born initially decided to leave the Razorbacks at the beginning of the 2026 season, but chose against it solely for her love for the program. But eventually, she discovered why Georgia is just the place for her.
“The reason I chose Georgia is because I felt like it was a good mix of all of the schools,” she explained. “I had the relationships, the coaching, the academics (I wanted) … it just felt more comfortable to me … I felt like, ‘Okay, this is where I’m meant to be.'”
She’ll complete the remaining 2 years of eligibility under the head coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and associate head coach Laurent Landi. And they were also her club coaches at the World Champions Centre.
Are you excited for Roberson’s return to the elite level? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy