The Bars Are Set: Team USA is Ready for the Gymnastics World Championships
- Alyssa Klauminzer
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Team USA is ready to tumble to the top at the Gymnastics World Championships!
Worlds is the biggest gymnastics competition outside of the Olympics. This year, they are also an important point in the quad leading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There is no team competition in post-Olympics years at Worlds, but countries will send their best up-and-coming gymnasts for the chance to win individual medals.
Let's meet Team USA!
Skye Blakely
Skye Blakely is just beginning an incredible comeback. She was at the height of her career leading up to the 2024 Olympics and was a favorite to be on the team before an Achilles injury stopped her short. In the year following her injury, Blakely competed in her first season at the University of Florida, where she was a regular contributor on the uneven bars. She's focused on competing on the uneven bars and balance beam, events where she displays difficulty and elegance, and has put up the highest scores in the country on both events. She gives the U.S. a strong chance to medal in both events.
Blakely competed in the World Championships in 2022 and 2023 and won gold in the team event both years. At the U.S. National Championships this year, she finished first on the uneven bars and second on the balance beam.
Dulcy Caylor
Dulcy Caylor was the first gymnast named to the Worlds team. In last week's World Selection Event, she put up the highest all-around score to earn an automatic spot on the team. If she can hit every event like she did last week, Caylor will shine in the all-around competition. She could also have medal opportunities on bars, beam, and floor (and you need to see her second tumbling pass!). Caylor is the youngest member of the Worlds team at 17 and is an underdog. Her career, which will include joining Blakely at the University of Florida in 2027, is only getting started!
At the U.S. National Championships this year, Caylor placed eighth in the all-around, fifteenth on the uneven bars and floor exercise, and third on the balance beam.
Joscelyn Roberson
Joscelyn Roberson is coming off a stellar first season with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Roberson has always been a powerful athlete, standing out especially on vault and the floor exercise. She has one of the most difficult floor routines in the world, and if she can control her power, the gold could be hers. Roberson got injured at the 2023 World Championships and is now ready for redemption.
In 2023, Roberson won a gold medal in the team event at Worlds. At the U.S. National Championships this year, she finished third in the all-around, fifth on the uneven bars, seventh on the balance beam, and second on the floor exercise.
Leanne Wong
Leanne Wong has the most experience out of any gymnast currently competing for the USA, and is on her fourth World Championships team. She has been a finalist at Worlds in the all-around, vault, beam, and floor. She is the USA's strongest contender in the all-around and is also a favorite to medal on vault. Wong is continuing her career and competing at Worlds while pursuing a master's degree at the University of Florida, serving as a student assistant coach for Gators Gymnastics, and running her own business, Leanne Wong Bowtique. What can't Wong do?!
Wong competed in the 2021 World Championships, where she won silver in the all-around and bronze on the floor exercise. She also won gold in the team event in both 2022 and 2023. At the U.S. National Championships this year, she finished second in the all-around, first on vault, third on the uneven bars, and fifth on the balance beam and floor exercise.
The road to the 2028 Olympics has officially begun! The World Championships take place Oct. 19-25. Follow USA Gymnastics for streaming information so you can watch and cheer on past, present, and future SEC gymnastics stars on the biggest elite gymnastics stage of the year!
Edited by: Kelly Cassette
Comments