MINNEAPOLIS — Noticeably absent from the women's gymnastics Team USA celebration Sunday night at the Target Center was Minnesota-native Shane Wiskus, who was selected the night before as an alternate for the men's team competition next month in Paris.
On Monday afternoon, Wiskus, part of the core men's team in Tokyo's 2020 games, told his Instagram followers why he didn't attend in an eight-part post.
"My specific goals for Olympic Trials were to compete fearlessly, be present and have fun," Wiskus said. "Never in my career have I been as fearless, present, nor had as much fun as I did throughout those 2 competitions... Yet immediately after the conclusion of night 2, I had an eerie feeling that it wouldn't be enough. And it wasn't..."
Wiskus said his experience at trials was "nothing short of a dream," but admitted he tested a full range of emotions when he returned to his hotel room that night, ultimately being named a traveling alternate for Paris.
"... The first wave was so deep and so brutal that the only antidote was to surround myself with the people who love me most," he said.
Wiskus earned third place in the all-around competition but placed first in the floor exercise, propped up by a boisterous hometown crowd of Wiskus' closest 16,000 friends.
But despite the familiar, Gophers gymnastics-era cheers and standing ovations coming from the packed stadium, Wiskus still couldn't help but feel pangs of disappointment.
"I was simply too fragile in the moment for any of it. I knew what I needed most was to be home and in my own bed," he said in his post, adding:
"I want to state my frustration in not making the team has no bearing on the athletes who did. I know for a fact that the team selected is the team with the greatest potential for success. Though I'm sad to not be named to that team, I will continue to train at the highest level to ensure our success should I be called upon.
Wiskus ended his message the way it began, thanking Minneapolis for "a weekend I will remember forever."
Wiskus joins Team USA with Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik and Frederick Richard, as well as Khoi Young, who will serve as the team's other traveling alternate.
"Next stop... Paris."
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