Skye Blakely Returns, Rising stars Challenge Veterans at 2025 U.S. Gymnastics Championships
Table of Contents
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – June 26, 2024 – The field is set for the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships,taking place June 26-30 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas. The competition will determine the U.S. World Championships team and features a compelling mix of Olympic medalists, returning stars, and promising newcomers poised to make their mark.
This year’s championships are especially notable as they represent a key step towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.The event serves as a crucial selection point for the U.S. team that will compete at the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, from September 24-October 6.
Women’s Competition: Blakely’s Comeback & pease’s Debut
The women’s competition will be headlined by 2024 Olympic team gold medalist Hezly Rivera. However, all eyes will be on Skye Blakely, who is making a highly anticipated return to elite gymnastics after a devastating Achilles tendon rupture just days before the 2024 Olympic Trials. Blakely,21,previously competed for the University of Florida Gators from January to April 2024,showcasing her resilience and determination. She will focus on balance beam and uneven bars.
Adding to the excitement is Claire Pease,the 2024 U.S. junior all-around champion. Pease, 16, recently demonstrated her potential by winning the saatva U.S. Classic on July 19th, a key preparatory event for the national championships. Her success echoes the trajectory of Simone Biles, who also won the U.S. all-around title in her senior debut in 2013.
The all-around winner at the U.S. Championships automatically secures a spot on the four-woman World Championships team. The remaining three team members will be selected by a committee, considering performances at nationals, the selection event, and other recent competitions.
Men’s Competition: Olympic Bronze Medalists Lead the Charge
On the men’s side, four of the five gymnasts who secured a team bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics are returning: three-time U.S. all-around champion Brody Malone, world all-around bronze medalist frederick Richard, 2023 U.S. all-around champion Asher Hong, and Olympic pommel horse bronze medalist stephen Nedoroscik. malone is not expected to compete in the all-around competition this week.
The path to the six-man World Championships team for the men is unique. Each individual apparatus champion at nationals will automatically qualify if they achieve a minimum difficulty score on either day of competition. These required difficulty scores, based on recent international competitions (European and Asian Championships), are:
Floor exercise: 6.1
high bar: 6.5
Parallel bars: 5.7
Pommel horse: 6.2
Still rings: 5.9
Vault: 5.4 (average of two vaults)
Any remaining team spots will be filled by committee selection, based on performances throughout the 2025 competition season.
Full list of qualified gymnasts: https://xfinitychampionships.com/2025/07/olympians-world-and-national-champions-among-qualifiers-to-2025-xfinity-u-s-gymnastics-championships/
Key Details Not in Original Article:
Location & Dates: specific location (Fort Worth Convention Center, Texas) and dates (June 26-30, 2024) of the championships.
World Championships Details: Added details about the 2025 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium (dates).
Gymnast Ages: Included ages for Blakely and Pease to provide context.
University Affiliation: Specified Blakely competed for the University of Florida gators.
Difficulty Score Clarification: Clarified the importance of the difficulty scores for men’s team selection.
Olympic Context: Framed the championships as a key step towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Angle Focus: The article focuses