The July Briefing
In this issue:
- USA wins team gold at Pan American Championships
- Rebeca Andrade returns, wins vault gold in Rio
- Jade Carey launches elite comeback at American Classic
- Katelyn Ohashi returns to elite after 13 years
- China dominates Asian Championships in Zunyi
- Russian Championships shape team for Euros and Worlds
USA Wins Team Gold at Pan American Championships
Team USA won the women's team title (161.628) at the Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro, securing a berth to the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam. Olympic champion Hezly Rivera withdrew after vault with a hamstring injury, leaving the squad to compete with four athletes. Claire Pease won the all-around title (54.498), with teammate Charleigh Bullock taking silver (54.032). Brazil won team silver (157.796) and Canada took bronze (156.997). Five nations qualified full teams to Rotterdam: USA, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, and Mexico. Pease also won floor gold in event finals.
Rebeca Andrade Returns, Wins Vault Gold
Six-time Olympic medalist Rebeca Andrade competed for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympics, vault only, at the Pan American Championships in her home country. Andrade posted a 14.549 average in qualification, the highest vault score worldwide for 2026, then won event final gold with a 14.266 average. Canada's Lia-Monica Fontaine, the 2025 world vault silver medalist, finished second (14.249). Andrade confirmed her trajectory toward the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam and LA 2028.
Jade Carey Returns to Elite Competition
Three-time Olympic medalist Jade Carey returned to elite gymnastics for the first time since Paris 2024 at the American Classic in Minneapolis. Competing with intentionally reduced difficulty, Carey won vault (14.250) and floor (13.100) and placed second in the all-around (53.050) behind 17-year-old Tatum Drusch (53.700). Carey qualified for the U.S. Championships in Phoenix, her hometown, on August 6-9. The 26-year-old plans a gradual difficulty build toward the October World Championships in Rotterdam, with the U.S. Classic in Hartford (July 17-18) as the next competition.
Katelyn Ohashi Returns to Elite After 13 Years
Katelyn Ohashi returned to elite gymnastics at the American Classic, her first elite competition since winning the 2013 American Cup and her first competitive appearance since wrapping her NCAA career at UCLA in 2019. Now 29 and training at Pacific Reign in Seattle, Ohashi competed on beam (13.150, third place) and floor (11.500). She entered the U.S. Classic on July 17-18 in Hartford as her final opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Championships. Ohashi's viral 2019 UCLA floor routine surpassed 250 million views and remains one of the most-watched gymnastics performances online.
China Dominates Asian Championships
China swept the team title (168.498) and the top two all-around positions at the Asian Championships in Zunyi. Ke Qinqin won all-around gold (56.299), with teammate Zhang Qingying taking silver (55.666). Japan won team silver (163.496) and South Korea took bronze (156.563). In event finals, South Korea's Yeo Seojeong won vault, Qiu Qiyuan won bars, Zhang Qingying won beam, and Zhang Yihan won floor. Four teams qualified to the Rotterdam World Championships.
Russian Championships Shape Team for Euros and Worlds
Anna Kalmykova won the all-around title at the Russian Championships in Kaluga (54.299 in finals, 54.765 in qualifications). Liudmila Roshchina won bars and floor event titles. Tokyo Olympic team gold medalist Viktoria Listunova scored 14.800 on bars in qualifications. Kalmykova, Roshchina, Listunova, and 2025 world all-around champion Angelina Melnikova (who sat out with an injury) all named to the European Championships team headed to Zagreb in August. Russia returns to full international team competition this fall at the World Championships in Rotterdam.
Last updated: July 13, 2026