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MyKayla Skinner won’t appear at the Huntsman Center for the American Classic — but there’ll be plenty of gymnastics talent

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) MyKayla Skinner waves to the crowd after scoring a 10 on the floor exercise, in the PAC-12 Gymnastics Championships at the Maverik Center, Saturday, March 23, 2019.

Utah gymnastics fans hoping to see MyKayla Skinner perform in the Huntsman Center this weekend in the American Classic are no doubt disappointed the Ute star won’t be there.

But according to her club coach, Lisa Spini, Skinner’s participation in the event would have been merely “show.”

“She is on track in her training, but there is still a big difference in her routines when you compare them to the top level, of what she is capable of doing and what we want her to do,” Spini said. “It would have been fun for her to be there, but it just doesn’t fit into her long-term plans.”

Skinner announced shortly after the 2019 season ended that she plans to skip her senior year at Utah and instead focus on making the 2020 Olympic team.

Since the American Classic is a qualifying meet for the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in August, several top competitors will be on hand.

However, Spini said Skinner is still upgrading her routines and instead plans to compete in the U.S. Classic on July 20 in Louisville, which also is a qualifying meet for the U.S. Championships.

AMERICAN CLASSIC GYMNASTICS

At the Huntsman Center


Friday

Hopes Classic

2:40 p.m. - Ages 10-11

7:15 p.m. - Ages 12-13


Saturday

American Classic

10:15 a.m. - junior elite

1:45 p.m. - senior elite


Tickets can be purchased at utahtickets.com or by calling 801-581-UTIX

Skinner, who was an alternate on the 2016 Olympic team, is using the meets this summer to gauge her chances of making a spot on the next Olympic roster, which will be determined at the Olympic Trials June 25-28, 2020, in St. Louis.

The Utes are holding her scholarship for her until August.

Skinner is training with Spini at her club Desert Lights Gymnastics in Chandler, Ariz.

While Skinner was one of the most dominant gymnasts at the collegiate level, she needs to upgrade her routines to be competitive at the Olympic level, especially in the vault and uneven bars. Skinner is working on a second vault and is upgrading her bars routines since most gymnasts have just three major elements at the college level, but as many as eight-to-10 at the elite level.

“She could have gone to Salt Lake and performed some easy routines, but she didn’t sit out a year to be average,” Spini said. “She is focused on her goals and has a great attitude.”

Skinner’s absence doesn’t mean the American Classic is short on talent.

Jordan Chiles, the 2018 World Cup all-around bronze medalist will be competing as well as U.S. Senior and Junior National Team members including Sloane Blakely, the 2019 Gymnix International balance beam silver medalist, Sunisa Lee, the 2019 Jesolo Trophy All-Around champion, Ciena Alipio, the balance beam silver medalist at the 2019 Jesolo Trophy and Skye Blakely, the junior vault and uneven bars champion at the 2019 Gymnix International will all be competing.

Shania Adams, who was the all-around silver medalist at the American Classic last year will also compete.