“I’ve done hard things before, and I can do them again.” These words from Ashlee Sullivan took on fresh weight this past weekend in New Orleans. Once on the verge of stepping away from elite gymnastics, the newly-committed UCLA recruit had clawed her way back into the national spotlight in 2025. Her season had already included a Winter Cup victory, a strong showing at the DTB Mixed Team Cup, and a podium finish in Jesolo. But at the Xfinity U.S. Championships, it was not her medal hopes that stirred the audience.
Rather, it was the silence that fell after she landed short on the vault.
Sullivan, who had earlier spoken candidly about the emotional toll of setbacks, “Physically, I knew the skills were there, but there’s always that voice in your head,” found herself at the center of concern once more. Mid-competition, she required immediate medical attention following a visibly under-rotated vault.
Gymnastics analyst Scott Bregman, reporting live from the scene, posted that she was “getting medical attention after coming up very short on a vault landing.” The post rapidly made the rounds, with fans and fellow athletes alike expressing alarm over her condition. Thankfully, clarity followed swiftly.
“Walking off now. Seems like all is well,” Bregman updated fans a few minutes later.
While details remain limited, the visual confirmation of Sullivan exiting the floor upright offered a measure of relief. For a gymnast who had only recently decided to extend her elite career rather than fast-track her transition to NCAA competition, the moment underscored both the risk and resilience embedded in her continued pursuit.
Walking off now. Seems like all is well. https://t.co/q37k15MIvG
— Scott Bregman (@sbregman87) August 7, 2025
This year’s US Championships in New Orleans carried historical weight, marking the first time since 1995 that the city had hosted the event. That year, John Roethlisberger and Dominique Moceanu claimed all-around titles.
In 2025, a new generation stood on the floor with World Championship and National Team selection implications hanging in the balance. Sullivan, who had opted out of the Pan American Championships to focus on refining routines and integrating upgrades, had been among the names to watch. “We’re working on execution, training upgrades, and then hopefully putting those into routines for Classics and the rest of the season,” she had shared beforehand.
Though her status for upcoming meets remains uncertain, Sullivan’s presence in New Orleans was emblematic of her renewed mindset. “What’s meant for me will happen,” she mentioned. “I’m just trying to set myself up for success—mentally and physically—and take it all one step at a time.” It was a sentiment made tangible in a moment that tested her resolve once again, this time under the full glare of a national championship.
Now, after the injury scare, fans could not keep calm.
Ashlee Sullivan’s scary vault fall sends shockwaves among gymnastics fans
Ashlee Sullivan’s short landing on the vault mid-competition was met with visible worry from the audience and fans online. The same sentiment of “Oh no! I hope she’s okay.” echoed through the community. It captured the raw panic that rippled through the gymnastics circle before updates clarified she walked off under her own power. The comment reflected the real-time fear sparked by her unexpected injury scare at a critical national event.
Sullivan’s fall evoked painful memories of Olympic Trials injuries, prompting the reaction: “HASN’T VAULT TAKEN ENOUGH FROM US AT TRIALS.” This wasn’t just about her stumble, as it stirred collective trauma among fans who’ve watched vault mishaps derail careers. In the 1996 Olympics, Kerri Strug had to push through the pain of a broken ankle to win gold for the USA. That emotional history fueled the heightened concern, making this moment more than an isolated incident.
Ashlee Sullivan (Image Credit: Instagram/@ashleesullivan_)
“Vault is by far the most dangerous event and causes the most injuries, right?,” coming from another X user, was not hyperbole. It’s a known risk, especially when gymnasts chase difficulty upgrades. Sullivan’s decision to train upgrades and forgo Pan Ams showed ambition, but the injury scare reignited debates over safety and whether technical progression outweighs long-term athlete health.
One fan lamented, saying, “Ugh I wanted her to bring the DTY back but not at the expense of an injury just do the 1.5 pls.” Such a comment spoke to the tradeoff between difficulty and consistency. Sullivan’s past teased a possible return of her double-twisting Yurchenko, but her under-rotated landing highlighted the risks of pushing upgrades too soon. The plea was one of protective admiration.
“Oh my god oh my god” came amid the flood of real-time reactions to Bregman’s initial report. With no immediate clarity and visuals of medical staff attending to Sullivan, fans spiraled into dread. The repetition echoed how sudden and disorienting the moment felt. An elite athlete collapsed, her season possibly in jeopardy, all in front of a silent arena.
The post “Hope She’s Ok”: Gymnastics Community Concerned as US National Team Member Suffers From Medical Setback appeared first on EssentiallySports.
