This post was updated July 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Every performance matters more come an Olympic year.

For Jordan Chiles and rising senior Emma Malabuyo, their journey to the Paris Olympics started long before the opening ceremony.

Chiles is set to compete for the United States, while Malabuyo will represent the Philippines.

Joining Team USA is 2025 UCLA gymnastics commit Tiana Sumanasekera, who was named a nontraveling alternate.

Consistency is key to make it to the Summer Games. Take a look at Chiles, Malabuyo and Sumanasekera’s performances throughout the 2024 season.

Jordan Chiles
Team USA

Chiles fell short of making the 2023 World Championship team.

When Chiles was ready to compete again in February, a shoulder injury forced her to withdraw from the Winter Cup.

On day one of the U.S. championships, Chiles fell on her best event – the floor exercise. The two-time NCAA champion scored just a 12.750 after falling on her double layout dismount. The score marked her lowest on the event since the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Chiles fought back on day two with a 14.100 – this time sticking her dismount cold.

On both days of competition, Chiles fell – resulting in at least two points in deductions – but still qualified for the Olympic Trials.

She started off her Olympic Trial with a bang, scoring a 56.400 in the all-around, putting her in second place just behind Simone Biles and ahead of reigning Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee.

Chiles couldn’t hold on to the top spot after the second day of competition, but she matched her third-place finish from the 2021 Olympic Trials. She showed consistency on floor, scoring a 14.100 both days.

Her performance secured her spot on the Olympic team, becoming just the third Bruin in UCLA gymnastics history to compete in two consecutive Olympic Games.

Emma Malabuyo
Team Philippines

Malabuyo’s journey to the Olympics looked different from Chiles’.

The Philippines failed to qualify a team for the Olympic Games at the 2023 World Championships – leaving Malabuyo to qualify as an individual.

Malabuyo’s first option was to qualify through the World Cup series, where gymnasts are awarded points for their placements on each event. The two gymnasts that top the rankings on each event punch their ticket to the Olympics.

Malabuyo started the series at the Cairo World Cup, where she scored a 12.466, qualifying for the floor final in seventh place. On beam, Malabuyo struggled and scored just a 10.966, her lowest score of the season.

Her next stop was in Cottbus, Germany, where Malabuyo improved her scores on both events. During the qualifying round, Malabuyo scored a 12.600 on both beam and floor.

Despite failing to qualify for the floor finals, Malabuyo sat in second place in the points race – high enough to qualify for the Olympics.

Following the Baku World Cup, where Malabuyo scored 12.933 and 13.000 on beam and floor, respectively, Malabuyo was passed in the final rankings and sat in third – one place short of an Olympic ticket.

The World Cup Series didn’t earn Malabuyo her ticket – she missed out on the spot by six points, just behind Laura Casabuena of Spain.

Her final chance to qualify laid at the Asian Championships.

If she became the highest-ranked nonqualified athlete at the competition, Malabuyo would solidify her spot at the Olympics.

Malabuyo competed in the all-around in international competition for the first time since 2021 and won third place, punching her ticket to the Olympics and becoming the first-ever Filipina gymnast to win an all-around medal at the Asian Championships. Her 13.333 on floor was her highest since 2019, and she went on to win the gold medal in the floor final.

Malabuyo’s journey to the Olympics was rocky – but it paid off.

Tiana Sumanasekera
Team USA (nontraveling alternate)

While Sumanasekera may not get her chance to compete in Paris, keep an eye on her come 2028 in Los Angeles.

The 16-year-old hit every single one of her routines this year, not having a fall or major mistake in all 29.

On day one of the U.S. championships in May, Sumanasekera stamped her name as one of the top floor workers in the nation. Sticking her full-twisting double layout opening tumbling pass, she notched a 13.700, tying for the third-highest score of the night.

Sumanasekera came back even stronger on day two, scoring a 13.800. Her two-day total on the event was good enough for third place. In the all-around, she scored two straight 54-plus totals, good enough for ninth place overall. Alongside her strengths on floor, Sumanasekera began to make a name for herself as an all-around competitor.

At the Olympic Trials in late June, Sumanasekera hit her floor routines on both days of competition and earned the two highest all-around scores of her career. Peaking at the right time, she took home third place on beam and was named a nontraveling alternate for the U.S.

In most views, Sumanasekera was considered a newcomer this year. She lacks the international experience of the top contenders, but her career is just getting started. The five-star recruit has already announced plans to stick around for the 2028 Olympic Games in LA.