Rotterdam Gymnastics: U.S. Streak Ends, New Stars Emerge

The United States women's gymnastics team lost its unbroken run of world team titles in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Wednesday. China took the gold medal, finishing 0.233 points ahead of the American squad. The result ended a streak that began in 2011, a period during which the U.S. team had captured every major team championship. The narrow margin underscores the tight race at the top of the sport as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach in less than two years.

The American roster was thin for this competition. Defending world all-around champion Angelina Melnikova missed the event after a visa denial. Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey were also absent as they return to elite competition. Hezly Rivera, the only member of the 2024 Olympic team on the current squad, withdrew from the qualifying round due to a left ankle injury. Chellsie Memmel, the team's technical lead, identified balance beam as a priority area for improvement following the final.

Individual results offered a different narrative for the American women. Skye Blakely, 21, won the all-around championship on Friday. She became the ninth American woman to claim that title. Blakely had previously missed the 2021 and 2024 Olympic teams due to injuries. Her victory came after she led the standings through vault, uneven bars, and beam. Claire Pease, 17, finished seventh in the all-around but won the floor exercise world title as the final competitor of the meet. The two athletes, along with teammates, secured seven medals for the U.S. women, the most of any nation at the event.

The American men's team faced a steeper challenge. They finished sixth, more than four points behind the podium. This marked their worst result at the World Championships in 20 years. Japan, the reigning Olympic champions, retained the team gold. Russia and China took silver and bronze, respectively. Fred Richard, 22, provided a bright spot for the U.S. men. He won the floor exercise title, becoming the first American man to claim that world medal since 2003.

Other global champions emerged during the nine-day competition. Brazil's Rebeca Andrade won the vault final, adding to her 10th career world medal. Algeria's Kaliya Nemour, 19, defended her uneven bars title and added a world championship on balance beam. Japan's Daiki Hashimoto won his fourth consecutive men's all-around title, finishing nearly two points ahead of the silver medalist. The results in Rotterdam set the stage for the remainder of the Olympic cycle, with many top athletes expected to return to competition in the coming months.