Some of the most promising names in USA Gymnastics head to Phoenix this week for the 2026 US Gymnastics Championships. Over 100 athletes are slated to compete August 6-9, chasing both national titles and Worlds roster spots ahead of the 2028 LA Olympics.
The Road to LA28 Starts in Phoenix
Jade Carey headlines the women's field in her hometown.
The Oregon State alum hasn't competed at nationals since 2024, but she brings Olympic floor gold from Tokyo 2020 and a team gold medal from Paris 2024. A US all-around title is the one thing missing, and this year's competition may be her best shot.
Who's Competing for the USA Gymnastics All-Around Title?
Her biggest competition, defending champion Hezly Rivera, arrives with a fitness question mark. She pulled out of June's Pan American Championships with a hamstring issue after her first vault. When healthy, the 18-year-old holds four of five individual titles from 2025. But injury limitations could open the door for her peers.
And Skye Blakely is first in line.
The Florida gymnast took bars and beam at last month's US Classic and will go all-around at nationals for the first time since an Achilles injury ended her Paris Olympics bid. Claire Pease and Reese Esponda round out the contenders, with Pan Am and US Classic all-around wins between them.
The meet doubles as a qualifier for October's Worlds in Rotterdam, and with LA28 under two years out, every routine counts toward the next Olympics roster.
Fans can stream most of the competition live on Peacock.
Junelle Lyles is done with the track. The 28-year-old Jamaican sprinter confirmed her retirement from competitive running on Thursday's episode of PEOPLE's 'WAG World' series, closing the door on a career that took her to two Olympics.
Why Junelle Lyles is Stepping Away from the Track
Lyles won bronze in the women's 4x400-meter relay at the 2020 Tokyo Games. However, the moment she'd chased since childhood fell flat.
"This was a dream that I've been chasing since I was eight," she told host Skyler Caruso. "I got there at age 22, and for some reason it did not feel fulfilling."
That emptiness drove her back for one more try. Junelle Lyles earned an individual spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 400-meter dash. Even then, the feeling didn't change.
"I don't think this was really my dream anymore," she added.
The personal toll ran deeper than competition. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2021, while Lyles was preparing for Tokyo. Weekend hospital visits were all she could manage.
With Junelle Lyles' retirement from track now official, she's channeling her energy into creative work, saying "I find it very interesting to bring something new to life."
Simone Biles made the ESPY 2026 Awards her runway on Wednesday night in New York City. The 29-year-old arrived at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater in a champagne high-low gown styled by Marc Desir.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens Make Statement on ESPYs 2026 Red Carpet
The cut was paired with strappy heels, soft glam makeup, flowing curls, and a statement necklace to complete the red carpet look. Beside her, husband Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens coordinated in an all-brown suit as the two posed for photographs hand-in-hand.
Once inside, Biles swapped her gown for a black body-hugging dress with a deep-plunge neckline and gold embellishments. She then took the stage to present Best Team, naming the New York Knicks as the winner.
An Olympic Legend Returns to the Spotlight After Health Scare
The outing came just weeks after Biles posted about a medical emergency she called one of the "scariest experiences" of her life.
"Almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week," Biles shared on her Instagram story, promising she'd share more updates when she was ready.
The incident happened while Owens was away at offseason practice for the Colts. She's kept a lower profile since. Still, the record-setting gymnast appeared at ease all evening during last night's ESPY Awards.
Olympics superstar Alysa Liu won the Best Breakthrough Athlete award at the 2026 ESPYs on Wednesday night. The US figure skating star, 20, beat out a field that included Macklin Celebrini, Drake Maye, and Fernando Mendoza.
Alysa Liu's 2026 Olympics US Figure Skating Comeback
Her award caps a two-year return to competitive skating. Liu, one of the youngest skaters to land a triple Axel, competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics when she was just 16. She retired shortly after and enrolled at UCLA. After nearly two years away, she returned to the ice in 2024.
That decision paid off at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Liu's skate to Laufey's "Promise" went viral as she used the routine to tell her story of coming back to the sport. The performance won the women's singles gold, ending a 24-year US drought as she became the first US woman to take the title since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Alysa Liu Discusses Her 2026 ESPYs Breakthrough Win
Accepting the ESPY at Lincoln Center in New York City, Liu reflected on her path back to the Olympics.
"I've been in my sport since I was 5 years old, and I had some really rough times in it, and I took two years off," Liu said. "So, for me, it really feels like I broke through in my own way, for myself and for my sport."
Suni Lee is shooting for another Olympic run, as the decorated gymnast is officially rejoining USA Gymnastics ahead of LA28.
The 23-year-old Auburn alum has won six Olympic medals. Her collection includes all-around gold in Tokyo and team gold in Paris.
Lee’s return caps a remarkable arc. A 2023 chronic kidney disease diagnosis nearly ended her gymnastics career and forced her to step away from collegiate competition.
After entering remission in 2024, Lee will chronicle her comeback in a forthcoming documentary produced by Fanatics Studios.
“I know there’s more in me, and this is my chance to challenge myself, test my limits, and see what I’m truly capable of,” she said.
Janja Garnbret has added another milestone to her climbing resume. On June 6th, the two-time Olympic gold medalist completed the first women's cliber to scale Bibliographie in Céüse, France.
The 35-meter limestone route carries a 9b+ difficulty rating — just one step below the hardest grade on Earth. Garnbret is now only the second woman to complete a confirmed 9b+ climb, joining Brooke Raboutou who reached the mark in 2025.
Still, the grade alone doesn't capture what makes Bibliographie so punishing.
How Bibliographie Tested Climber Janja Garnbret
The route demands more than 80 high-resistance moves on steep, smooth limestone. The outdoor rock brings even more challenges, including shifting weather, mountain winds, and limited attempts per trip.
Garnbret made five separate visits over two years before finally finishing the climb. The 27-year-old said the project forced her to slow down.
"This route taught me that with a calm mind and with patience, anything can happen," Garnbret said after the climb.
With the ascent, she becomes jut the fifth professional climber to make it to the top of Bibliographie.
Next, Garnbret returns to the IFSC World Cup circuit in Innsbruck, where she'll chase another record: her 50th career victory.
Simone Biles is resting at home after a medical emergency she described as a near-death experience brought her to the hospital. The 29-year-old Olympic gymnast shared details of the health scare on her Instagram Stories earlier this week.
"Almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week," Biles wrote, calling it one of the scariest experiences of her life.
The crisis happened while her husband, Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens, was away at offseason NFL practice.
USA Olympic Legend Shares Recovery Update After Hospital
Despite the severity of the scare, Biles assured fans she is safely back home. She posted photos of herself resting in bed alongside her two French bulldogs, Lilo and Rambo.
Friends and family quickly filled her room with bouquets to show support.
Biles has not yet disclosed what caused the emergency. Still, she promised to share more information once she fully recovers. For now, the most decorated gymnast in USA Olympic and World Championship history is focused on rest.
Simone Biles's Summer Olympics Future Remains Uncertain
The health scare adds another layer of uncertainty to Biles's Olympic gymnastics future. Even before this week's emergency, her status for the 2028 LA Games remained unclear.
"Whether on the apparatus or in the stands, I still don't know that," she told French sports outlet L'Equipe in April 2025. "But 2028 seems so far away, and my body is aging. I felt it in Paris."
Biles continued her noncommittal stance during a January 2026 appearance on TODAY.
"If I have to say anything, I'm just like, 'Give me a little bit more time to recover, mentally, physically,'" she said. "We got a little bit more things to do and then we'll see."
For now, fans worldwide are sending well-wishes as she heals.
Alysha Newman has been handed a 20-month suspension after missing multiple anti-doping controls, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit.
The Canadian pole vaulter — who won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics — is responsible for three "whereabouts" failures within a 12-month span. This qualifies as an anti-doping violation under global athletics rules.
In a post on Instagram, Newman shared a message alongside a photo celebrating her Olympic bronze medal.
“You can bind up my leg, but not even Zeus has the power to break my freedom of choice — Epictetus,” Newman wrote.
Under international anti-doping rules, athletes must maintain a daily one-hour period for surprise testing.
According to the AIU, Newman missed one test in February and two in August. During the third incident, officials said Newman told a doping control officer she had to leave to film a television game show.
After the third violation in February 2026, Newman subsequently received a provisional suspension.
“The Athlete has accepted the above Consequences for her Anti-Doping Rule Violation and has expressly waived her right to have those Consequences determined by the Disciplinary Tribunal at a hearing,” the AIU said in a statement.
Newman's ban runs through August 2027.
The standard penalty for whereabouts violations is typically two years. However, investigators reduced the suspension after accepting that Newman has decided to end her pole vaulting career. The AIU described that as a "sufficiently unique/exceptional factor" in determining the sanction.
The 31-year-old last competed in Diamond League events in Qatar and Morocco in 2025. However, she became one of Canada's most recognizable track and field athletes during the Paris Olympics, where her 4.85 meter-vault set a national record. She additionally became the first Canadian woman to medal in Olympic pole vault.
Lindsey Vonn, A'ja Wilson, Venus Williams, and Eileen Gu were among the many top athletes turning heads with 2026 Met Gala looks on Monday night.
Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Met Gala stands as one of the year's biggest nights for fashion, art, and culture.
Williams helped lead the night as co-chair, alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour. The seven-time Grand Slam champion wore a black gown inspired by her portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. She paired it with a neck piece reminiscent of Wimbledon’s “Venue Rosewater dish” trophy.
The WNBA also had a strong presence.
Wilson — along with Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers — delivered some of the most talked-about Met Gala looks of the night. Wilson sported a gold off-the-shoulder gown with flowing sleeves, set ablaze by a slicked-back, golden-blonde hairstyle.
For Vonn, the night brought an especially significant moment.
In one of her first public appearances since her 2026 Winter Olympics crash, the decorated US skier arrived wearing a Thom Browne gown. Vonn also walked in without her crutches, marking a recovery milestone just three months after her injury.
Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu wore a glass bubble dress that weighed 30 pounds. Additionally, her look was complete with a bubble machine that trailed behind her.
"I lift weights, don't worry. I'm good," Gu told USA TODAY, explaining her Met Gala look with a laugh.
"There's a sense of whimsy. You can't help but poke and play with them. I like bringing that sense of fun wherever I go."
40-year-old Allyson Felix announced a stunning comeback Monday, telling TIME Magazine she plans to compete at the 2028 LA Olympics at age 42 — four years after retiring from track and field.
The most decorated women's sports athlete in Olympic track and field history said she wants to prove women over 40 can still chase bold dreams. Felix drew inspiration from athletes like Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Lindsey Vonn, as all excelled past 40.
"So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing," Felix said. "You know, at this age, I should probably be staying home and taking care of my kids, doing all that. And just, why not? Let's flip it on its head."
Allyson Felix will begin training with legendary coach Bobby Kersee in October, targeting a competitive return in 2027 via certified events.
No US sprinter has ever reached an Olympics in their 40s.
Felix won 11 Olympic medals across five Summer Games — seven gold, three silver, and one bronze. She burst onto the scene at age 18 in Athens, winning silver in the 200 meters. She later dominated the field in Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo before hanging it up in 2022.
Her best performance came in London 2012, where Felix swept gold in the 200 meters, 4x100-meter relay, and 4x400-meter relay.
Since retiring, Allyson Felix joined the IOC's Athletes' Commission and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee's Board of Directors. She subsequently earned induction into the US Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2025.
Felix also became an outspoken advocate for mothers in sports, fighting for better treatment for pregnant athletes and working mothers.
Even if she doesn't make the 2028 team, Felix said she'll attend the Games with her children, cheering on Team USA from the stands.