US Women Lead Qualifying at 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
Skye Blakely was part of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team that finished with 164.529 points on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during qualifying at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, USA Today reported.
Rotterdam Qualifiers Test Depleted U.S. Roster
The American squad entered the Ahoy arena facing significant roster disruption. Two-time U.S. champion Hezly Rivera withdrew from the competition 24 hours before the Sunday qualifying session due to an injury to her left ankle, as reported by USA Today.
As NBC Sports pointed out, making matters harder is the fact that the U.S. roster contains no gymnasts who possess prior Olympic experience, marking the first time the country has fielded a team-event squad at worlds without any Olympians since 2011. Only one member of the team, Skye Blakely, had previously competed at a team world championships. Alongside Blakely, the U.S. lineup in Rotterdam included Charleigh Bullock, Dulcy Caylor, Claire Pease, and Reese Esponda, according to USA Gymnastics.
Blakely Leads U.S. Women in All-Around Standings
Blakely posted the top all-around score for the U.S. women with 55.465 points, competing in her fourth championships and returning to elite all-around competition for the first time since tearing an Achilles before the 2024 Olympic Trials, NBC Sports reported. Blakely also previously tore an elbow ligament while warming up for the Tokyo Olympic Trials.
I already cried, but it just means the world to me,
Blakely said, according to NBC Sports. Knowing how much I’ve been through — two major surgeries, a lot of hardships, ups and downs.
Worlds rookie Claire Pease followed with 54.432 points, putting Blakely and Pease 1 and 2 in the all-around during qualifying, according to USA Today. Based on NBC Sports figures, 16-year-old Charleigh Bullock—the youngest American to take part in worlds since 2018—secured the third spot behind Blakely and Pease by totaling 53.499 points. The U.S. counted just one score below 13 during the session—a 12.966—and secured at least one gymnast in the top two on every individual event.
U.S. Gymnasts Prepare for Upcoming Medal Finals
The U.S. women finished qualifying comfortably atop the standings and are expected to advance to the team final on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, which will air live on Peacock and NBCSN, according to USA Gymnastics and NBC Sports. Blakely and Pease are positioned to advance to Friday’s 24-woman all-around final, though official qualification status awaits the completion of remaining subdivisions on Monday, Oct. 19.
Meanwhile, the U.S. men qualified fifth into Tuesday’s eight-team final, led by top qualifier Japan, NBC Sports reported. Frederick Richard and Danila Leykin qualified for Thursday’s men’s all-around final, while Richard advanced to the floor exercise final and Patty Hoopes reached the pommel horse final ahead of the weekend events running through Oct. 25.
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