Cooper Kim ➙ H Bar

This is the routine that impressed me most at USA Championships. And surprised me.

Ignore the score. But it’s still one of the best routines in the world in 2026.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Hezly Rivera defends U.S. National Title

1. Hezly Rivera 111.950
2. Claire Pease 110.800
3. Charleigh Bullock 110.550
4. Reese Esponda 108.900
5. Jade Carey 108.750
6. Dulcy Caylor 107.350
7. Skye Blakely 107.300
8. Caroline Moreau 107.100
– Izzy Stassi 107.100
10. Simone Rose 107.050

Unlike the U.S. men, the women will NOT name their Worlds team after this competition.

Team Selection Camp is scheduled for late September 2026 ➙ for Artistic World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands (October 17–25, 2026).

Read Lauren’s LIVE blog.

Read Spencer’s LIVE blog.

U.S. Jr National Team named

Vivi Crain
Eva Doherty
Sadie Drake
Madelyn Eagle
Avery Haines
Brooklyn Klauser
Anslee McCauley
Amia Pugh-Banks
Paisley Ritger
Kylie Smith
Cassie Tan
Addalye VanGrinsven
Audrey VanGrinsven
Sydney Williams

Addalye VanGrinsven – U.S. Jr National Champion

A dominant competition for ‘Addy’. She trains at Pacific Reign Gymnastics in Washington state. Region 2.

1. Addalye VanGrinsven 105.100
2. Kylie Smith 102.350
3. Amia Pugh-Banks 101.950
4. Madelyn Eagle 100.900
5. Eva Doherty 100.850
6. Brooklyn Klauser 100.800
7. Avery Haines 100.450
8. Anslee McCauley 100.400

Read Lauren’s LIVE blog.

U.S. Men’s Team to Worlds ’26

Of a number of possible good options, here’s who was selected for Rotterdam in October.

⭐️ Patty Hoopes
⭐️ Dani Leykin
⭐️ Kam Nelson
⭐️ Fred Richard
⭐️ Shane Wiskus

I’m glad Yul is traveling with the team. Experience. Hype. AND he could go in to replace anyone, if needed.

Shelli crunched the numbers concluding that team selection was logical. She’d also be happy if they’d taken Cooper Kim over a Pommel specialist.

U.S. Champion Fred Richard

Final results over 2 days.

1. Fred Richard 170.015
2. Shane Wiskus 167.964
3. Danila Leykin 167.001
4. Joshua Karnes 164.552
5. Yul Moldauer 163.896
6. Cooper Kim 163.736
7. Taylor Burkhart 163.736
8. David Shamah 161.316

U.S. Men’s Jr National Team

After day 2 of U.S. Championships 2026.

8 Aug 2026 – International Safe Sport Day

In 2026 some right wing politicians are protecting those who sexually abuse children, voting against safety bills or online privacy laws.

For example, Elon Musk’s Grok was used to generate non-consensual sexualized images and deepfakes of minors. Musk’s company, xAI, filed a lawsuit attempting to block a Minnesota law designed to penalize the creation and sharing of nonconsensual sexual imagery, including deepfakes of minors.

(FIG) World Gymnastics is proud to join the International Safeguards for Children in Sport network by taking the Safe Sport pledge and promoting safeguarding across all our disciplines. …

Safeguarding Roadmap 2028

Today, we are pleased to share our Safeguarding Roadmap 2028, developed with input from athletes, coaches, National Federations (NFs) and experts, and endorsed by the WGYM Safeguarding Commission and leadership. …

  1. Governance & Regulatory: Establish an up-to-date, comprehensive and binding safeguarding policy framework for WGYM & NFs, with clear standards and accountability mechanisms.  
  2. Prevention & Education: Build a structured, scalable education ecosystem that equips athletes, coaches, NF officials and Safeguarding Leads with the knowledge and tools to prevent harm and respond appropriately.
  3. Safeguarding Network: Establish and sustain a global network of Safeguarding Leads, covering all regions and the majority of NFs, each trained to serve as WGYM’s safeguarding partner at the national level.
  4. Strategic Communication: Enhance safeguarding visibility – both internally and externally – and make WGYM a trusted and credible benchmark for safeguarding in sport. 

SAFEGUARDING NEWSLETTER – N° 01 – August 2026

I had input myself on this roadmap. The consultation process seemed to work well — and was surprisingly rapid. World Gymnastics has definitely put a lot of work into the initiative.

That said — children are not yet as well protected in sport as they should be.

Safeguarding is a work in progress.