Texarkana, Texas native Joscelyn Roberson’s path to the Olympic stage wasn’t traditional, but it’s a testament to perseverance and a deep love for the sport of gymnastics. While she didn’t make the five-person team competing in Paris, Roberson is serving as a traveling alternate for Team USA, a role she embraces with focus and determination. Her journey, marked by a significant ankle injury and a swift return to elite competition, culminated in qualifying for the Olympic team as an alternate.
Roberson’s introduction to gymnastics was almost accidental. As a young child, she was deemed too small for T-ball, prompting her mother to enroll her in gymnastics classes. It quickly became apparent she had a natural aptitude. She was soon practicing backflips on her parents’ bed, despite their concerns about safety. “I remember learning backflips on my parents’ bed, because they wouldn’t let me do them on the trampoline,” she told ELLE.com. “Because my arms were so small, they didn’t go completely over my head, so I always hit my head first.”
Her talent didn’t go unnoticed. In April 2015, a video of the then nine-year-old Roberson landing a backflip on Vine caught the attention of Simone Biles, already a rising star in the gymnastics world. Biles publicly expressed her admiration, tweeting, “I’m in awe. {perfect}, Some1 help me find this cutie. I wanna meet her, so she could teach me a thing or two #goals.” Now, nearly a decade later, Roberson is training and competing alongside her childhood idol.
However, the road to Paris wasn’t without obstacles. Roberson sustained an ankle injury during warmups at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, during the Team Final. The injury was a significant setback, forcing her to rebuild her skills and confidence. “It brought me back to ground zero,” she said, according to Inside Gymnastics. “I lost a lot of confidence after that, especially getting back because I wasn’t confident in my ankle anymore.”
The recovery process was challenging, but Roberson found strength in the support of her coaches and teammates. “I learned that I need people around me to continue to push me and to help me, and just tell me that I’m still good at gymnastics,” she explained. “Just having those people to tell me, if you’re healthy, you’re going to be fine and we still love you, even if nothing else happens – it helped me realize that I am still so young, and that was such a fast turnaround, but it also taught me that I love gymnastics.”
Roberson’s dedication paid off. She qualified for the Olympic Team as a traveling alternate at the Olympic Trials in June. The experience, though different from competing directly, is one she cherishes. She credits a piece of advice from a coach for helping her manage the pressure: “The best advice I have ever gotten from a coach was to just do my normal,” she said. “A lot of the time you get nervous, and you forget that you’re good enough to be where you’re at, otherwise you wouldn’t be there. So, just doing your normal is good enough. That calms my nerves a lot.”
As an alternate, Roberson is prepared to step in if needed. “If anything happens, I’ll be ready,” she stated, echoing the sentiment shared by all Team USA alternates. Her training regimen remains consistent with that of the competing gymnasts, ensuring she’s prepared for any opportunity. “My training is the same as if I was going to compete,” said fellow alternate Leanne Wong. “Because in this sport, like we saw at trials, anything could happen.”
While alternates don’t stay in the Olympic Village or receive official recognition from the International Olympic Committee, they are considered Olympians by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Roberson and Wong will be staying in a hotel near the competition venue, ready to contribute to the team if called upon. The role of the alternate is a critical one, requiring unwavering dedication and a willingness to support the team in any capacity.
Roberson’s story is a reminder that the journey to the Olympics is often filled with challenges and setbacks. Her resilience, combined with the support of her community, has brought her to Paris, where she stands ready to represent Team USA. Her experience serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, dreams can still be realized.
Roberson is currently a freshman at the University of Arkansas, balancing her elite gymnastics training with her academic pursuits. She was named to the 2025 World Championships Team alongside Blakely, Caylor, and Wong, further solidifying her position as a rising star in the sport. Her continued success promises an exciting future for this talented gymnast.
