A sport like gymnastics with its high-flying, jaw-dropping skills doesn’t come without a price. For better or for worse, almost every gymnast knows what it’s like to work through an injury—and hopefully come back even stronger. While we don’t know for sure if these athletes will be able to return to competition next season, here are 10 injury comebacks we’re already looking forward to for 2027.
Ashley Knight, NC State
One of the comebacks we’re rooting the hardest for, Knight’s trajectory was on the up-and-up before getting stalled by injury partway through her junior season. As a freshman and sophomore, Knight was a lineup staple on vault and floor, frequently scoring 9.9+ on both and earning numerous well-deserved accolades, including the 2024 ACC individual title on vault. If she’s able to continue her rise in 2027, Knight could be the one to help NC State push for top-three status after a fourth-place finish at the conference championship in 2026.
Ondine Achampong, Stanford
As a freshman at Cal, Achampong was a consistent contributor on beam, scoring as high as a 9.925 before spending her sophomore season recovering from a torn ACL. With her elite experience competing for Great Britain, she has strong all-around potential, and a fresh start at Stanford could be just what she needs to achieve that potential, provided she makes a full recovery.
Nesia Bat Yehudah, Boise State
A former three-star recruit, Bat Yehudah was a promising multi-event contributor if not all-arounder for Boise State before getting sidelined for her whole freshman season. Since her surgery, she has posted training videos of her acro series and side somi on beam as well as a Jaeger on bars, indicating that a comeback is definitely in the works. If Bat Yehudah is able to compete next season, her graceful lines and clean technique could earn big scores for the Broncos.
Sasha Fujisaka, UCLA
Another gymnast who has yet to make her competitive debut due to injuries, Fujisaka has the potential to be a lineup lock on bars in 2027 if fully healed. Before her Achilles injuries the past two seasons, she was a star on the event in level 10, winning the Region One title in 2021 and 2023 and even earning a 10.0 in 2024. Now that former bars anchor Jordan Chiles has graduated, Fujisaka, with her gorgeous form and potential for perfection, could be the one to fill that spot.
Frederique Sgarbossa, Minnesota
A mainstay on bars for Iowa State with 39+ all-around capabilities as well, Sgarbossa’s season was cut short due to an unknown injury from a bars fall at what the Cyclones would soon find out was their final meet before the discontinuation of the program. Now an incoming transfer at Minnesota, Sgarbossa could be a dependable bars contributor for the Gophers should she recover by 2027.
Skyelar Kerico, LSU
One of the most exciting transfer announcements of 2026, Kerico will fit right in at LSU with her power and 9.9+ highs on all four events that she earned while competing for Penn. If she is competition-ready by next season, Kerico’s Yurchenko one and a half, which she has stuck before, could be an impactful addition to LSU’s depth-rich vault lineup.
Sophia Bell, Auburn
Also a star vaulter, Bell made history this past season as the first Auburn gymnast to compete the difficult Yurchenko double full, sticking the landing for a 9.925. She is a seasoned competitor on floor as well, with a career-high 9.950, and also recently posted that she is training bars. After a season-ending Achilles rupture early this year, Bell’s potential return to competition is one of the most-anticipated comebacks of 2027, and could be just what Auburn needs to regain momentum after a less-than-ideal season.
Anne Challman, New Hampshire
A 2025 NCAA regional qualifier on floor as well as a standout two-event specialist with highs of 9.875 and 9.950 on beam and floor, respectively, Challman is an athlete New Hampshire certainly can’t wait to have back. After spending the 2026 season recovering from shoulder surgery, she hopes to come back even stronger for her senior year.
Love Akpan, Bowling Green
Akpan was a key contributor for Bowling Green before a foot injury just before the start of the 2026 season, appearing in every meet her freshman and sophomore years. With an all-around high of 39.175 and proven consistency, look for Akpan to reassert herself as a valuable part of the Falcons’ lineups should she be back on the competition floor come 2027.
Bailey Upton, Texas Woman’s
Missing the 2026 season to recover from an ACL injury, Upton thrived as a freshman and will hopefully be able to pick up right where she left off. In 2025, she advanced to the WCGNIC event finals on beam and floor and also helped the Pioneers win the team title, earning her the honor of being named the 2025 TWU Most Valuable Gymnast. With career-highs of 9.800 or higher on vault, beam, and floor and clean bars as a level 10, Upton has the potential to be an all-arounder post-injury.
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Article by Lilly Chan
