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U.S. national team member Trinity Thomas said she looks forward to returning to elite competition following her successful, just-finished freshman season competing for the University of Florida.

“I’m planning on doing summer meets and taking it step by step,” said Thomas following her performance at last weekend’s 2019 NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, where she competed on uneven bars and floor exercise.

Thomas, who said she plans to attend an upcoming U.S team training camp, relishes her experience as a member of the U.S. and University of Florida squads.

“To represent the U.S. is super incredible, and I’ve met so many people and been to so many places, so (it’s) really cool,” she said in a recent episode of “Gator Tales,” the official podcast of the Florida Gators.

Thomas likewise praised her teammates at Florida. “This team is just amazing,” she said. “They have pushed me and I know I have pushed them.”

Following her performance at NCAAs, she referred to the Florida team as a family.

“The coaches are so encouraging and loving and they just want what’s best for you,” said Thomas, who was named Southeastern Conference Freshman Gymnast of the Year in a vote of the league coaches. “I’ve been having the time of my life.”

Thomas, who turned 18 on April 7, trained under coaches Tony and Jen Fatta at Prestige Gymnastics in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, prior to enrolling at Florida.

Last year she placed second all-around at the World Cup of Tokyo, second all-around at the Senior Pan American Championships in Peru, and eighth all-around at the U.S. Championships. She was fourth all-around, third on balance beam and third on floor exercise at the 2017 P&G (U.S.) Championships.

Thomas’s athletic versatility extends beyond her roles on the U.S. and Florida gymnastics teams. In her final year of high school she competed in track and diving, and finished second at the 2018 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 2A Diving Championships.

With a return to international competition and a second season at Florida on her agenda, Thomas said she can and will improve.

“I know I’m not as good as I can be,” she said. “I want to keep getting better and keep working hard.”

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Veteran Swiss gymnast Ilaria Kaeslin told IG that her success at the recent European Championships inspired her for competitions to come.

“To see the good level from the other nations motivates me a lot,” said Kaeslin, who finished fourth on balance beam and 20th all-around at Europeans that took place April 10-14 in Szczecin, Poland. “Also, to make two finals gave me much motivation.”

For the third time in her career, Kaeslin came close to a Europeans medal on balance beam. She placed fourth on balance beam at the 2016 Europeans in Bern, Switzerland, and fifth on balance beam at last year’s Europeans in Glasgow, Scotland.

Kaeslin, who was 0.067 points shy of third place on balance beam in Szczecin, said she understands what improvements she will need to make for a podium finish going forward.

“I have to work more on the dismount and on the stability of my connections,” she said.

Assessing her performance in the all-around final, Kaeslin gave herself a mixed review.

“The all-around final was not bad,” said Kaeslin, who placed 13th all-around at the 2013 Europeans in Moscow and 14th all-around at the 2017 Europeans in Cluj-Napoja, Romania. “I did my best, but my floor routine and bars routine weren't so good. On floor I didn't finish the pirouette turn and on bars I made a mistake.”

As Swiss superstar Giulia Steingruber continues to recover from injury, the 21-year-old Kaeslin said she is modestly assuming the extra responsibility that comes with her seniority.

“I don't feel a big difference of pressure, because I always want to make good results,” she said. “My role in the team is the same as before. Giulia is always in training with the Swiss team. She is the captain. I'm just one of the oldest of the team, and I'm present if there is some questions or problems. At the Europeans, the other two Swiss gymnasts were only 16, and I tried to help if there were some questions.”

Kaeslin’s next goal is a credible performance at this fall’s World Championships in Stuttgart. She said her team, like many others, has the potential there to earn a berth to next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The top three teams from the 2018 Worlds in Doha, plus nine additional teams from the 2019 Worlds, will advance to Tokyo. Switzerland finished 21st in Doha, about 6.965 points away from 12th place.

Preparation and confidence will be keys to a solid Swiss showing in Stuttgart, Kaeslin said.

“We want to be in the top 12, but it will be really difficult,” she told IG. “All nations have the same goal, to go to the Olympics, and I think that we have to work really hard if we want to achieve this place. It will be difficult, but the first important thing is to believe we can do it.”

To subscribe to the print and/or digital edition, or to order back issues of International Gymnast magazine, click here.