BOSTON -- It has been a difficult year for USA Gymnastics as it continues to experience the fallout of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case, with new survivors coming forward almost weekly. Former Olympic gymnasts Kyla Ross and Madison Kocian announced they too had both been victims on Thursday, joining the growing list of over 300, which includes Simone Biles and several of her former national teammates. Questions continue to swirl about the organization's future and leadership.

As a result, the actual sport and competition have deservedly seemed secondary.

"It's definitely been a transition," said Ragan Smith, the reigning all-around national champion and 2016 Olympic alternate. "We're just training at our gyms right now. I went to [a training camp] in Tennessee, but that's the one that got cancelled halfway through because everyone got fired. It's definitely different.

"We don't see the other girls often anymore .... It's definitely harder because you're not really sure what everyone's doing or what you're expected to do."

However, despite all the turmoil, the country's top gymnasts will have to find a way to focus on competing this weekend at the 2018 USA Gymnastics Championships at TD Garden. With spots on the team for the upcoming world championships on the line, an impressive performance during the two-day event is crucial for their own future in the sport.

Biles, the five-time Olympic medalist and arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, certainly understands this. After a two-year absence, she made her return to the sport in last month's U.S. Classic and easily won the all-around title with her strength of skills, despite a few signs of rust.

Her presence and victory were well-received, and fans seemed delighted to see her return. Biles impacts her sport in the same way the "Tiger Effect" takes over golf. During her allotted media time on Wednesday, the 21-year-old drew at least double the reporters any of the other competitors received. She reveled in the spotlight, joking around and showing off her new "XO" lip tattoo. During her podium training, all eyes in the building were on her -- from members of the media to her peers to the arena's support staff. Everyone seemed to be at least sneaking a peek.

Her return has seemingly allowed the focus to come back somewhat to gymnastics, and she was asked about having the pressure of having to essentially save the sport in the country.

"It's both exciting and kind of scary because I don't want them to be completely dependent on me for the sport to continue," Biles said. "No, it's not fair to me because I can't carry the whole gymnastics world on me. But I guess it's kind of exciting I can bring some happiness back to the sport."

Biles' return is the talk of the sport, and even her peers who have achieved success during her time away seem to be acclimating to life in her shadow. Jade Carey, the world silver medalist on vault and floor, praised Biles for her contagiously fun spirit and appeared genuinely enthused to be in her group over the weekend. Smith also seemed happy about Biles coming back, if not mostly for her own personal reasons.

"I guess there's more competition this year because [Biles] is back," said Smith, who didn't compete in the all-around competition at the U.S. Classic due to injury. "But it's always great to have more competition because it makes you strive to do better."

National camp will finally resume next month with new team coordinator Tom Forster ahead of November's world championships. Everyone seems eager to get back to normal -- or at least their new normal. Biles was rumored to be less-than-pleased with some of her new teammates during the U.S. Classic, taking to Twitter with some of her grievances, but seemed to be in better spirits on Wednesday.

While nothing is certain for USA Gymnastics as an organization, the gymnasts will now do what they can to tune out the outside noise and focus solely on the competition ahead. They all have much to prove in hopes of earning a coveted spot on the world championship team. For Morgan Hurd, the reigning all-around world champion who finished in third place at the U.S. Classic behind Biles and Riley McCusker, that mostly means rising up to the challenge against Biles.

"I feel honored to compete with such a legend," Hurd said. "She's the best. Clearly, she's the greatest of all time, but I would hope one of us would come close to catching her. ... We all just want to be on top of that podium."