China Edges U.S. Women to Snap Historic Gymnastics Streak in Rotterdam
China edged the United States by 0.233 points on October 21, 2026, to capture the team title at the Artistic World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as reported by USA Today. The dramatic finish ended an American women’s winning streak that stretched back to the 2011 world championships, when the world championships were also held in Rotterdam.
day two ✔️it was a phenomenal second day of competition at the Women’s Worlds Team Event – stay tuned to see who else is headed to Rotterdam! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/X74TDpnJ11
The decisive moment came down to the final rotation on the floor exercise. China finished with a total score of 165.764, narrowly surpassing the U.S. total of 165.531. Chinese gymnast Qiu Qiyuan secured the gold by scoring 12.833 on the floor, clearing the 12.6 threshold her team needed to overtake the Americans. Japan placed third in the team standings, finishing nearly a point behind the U.S.
Rotterdam Medals Highlight Rising American Depth
Despite losing the team title, the U.S. delegation led all nations with eight total medals—comprising three golds, three silvers, and two bronzes—according to data analyzed by The Sports Examiner. The women’s squad delivered seven of those medals despite fielding a lineup that featured 16-year-old Charleigh Bullock, 17-year-olds Claire Pease and Reese Esponda, 18-year-old Dulcy Caylor and 21-year-old Skye Blakely, plus U.S. all-around champion Hezly Rivera, who missed the competition due to a left ankle injury.
Skye Blakely captured the world all-around title and added bronzes on both the vault and uneven bars. Claire Pease claimed gold on the floor exercise and silver on the vault, while Reese Esponda earned silver on the floor exercise. Frederick Richard contributed the lone U.S. men’s medal of the event with a gold on the floor exercise.
U.S. Technical Lead Eyes the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Chellsie Memmel, the U.S. women’s technical lead, expressed confidence in the program’s trajectory with less than two years remaining before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. I sure hope so,
Memmel told USA Today when asked if the team’s performance sent a message to international competitors. Everybody that we have — from what we have here, who says they’re coming back at home — it’s just going to make us stronger.
The American program anticipates further roster additions ahead of the 2028 Games. Tokyo Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee has resumed training for a competitive return, while Simone Biles continues to evaluate her status regarding a potential Olympic comeback in Los Angeles.
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