The stars of gymnastics are shining, as the world’s top eight qualifying nations prepare to do battle in Wednesday’s World Gymnastics Championships team final.
The US has won the team title seven consecutive times since 2011, but finished second in this week’s qualifying round — narrowly trailing China’s score of 164.996.
USA Gymnastics also found itself shorthanded, as 2024 Olympian Hezly Rivera withdrew from the competition with an ankle injury.
21-year-old Skye Blakely has stepped up in Rivera’s absence, taking second in All-Around qualifying as she returns from the Achilles injury that kept her from the 2024 Summer Games.
Blakely racked up 55.465 points in her world all-around debut, falling slightly behind Algerian Olympic gold medalist Kaylia Nemour’s 55.999.
“I already cried, but it just means the world to me,” said Blakely. “Knowing how much I’ve been through: two major surgeries, a lot of hardships, ups and downs.”
World Championships coverage runs through Sunday (Peacock).
