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One of the great promoters of our sport to the general public, Fred is taking his BIG personality to Gauteng, South Africa in November.
Coaching clinic and a public showcase competition.
Fred finished 9th in the All-Around at World Championships 2026.
Frederick Richard of the U.S.: ‘It’s about who’s most consistent and sharpest’
Gymnasts like Ellie Black and Carlos Yulo were EXPECTING credit for the normal performance of their vaults.
Does FIG World Gymnastics need to change the required percentage of flight?
You certainly need to bend your knees for landing.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I enjoyed 2010 at Ahoy arena. And it’s even better in 2026.
Volunteers — many from around the world — were terrific. We lacked for nothing.
82 Federations. 457 gymnasts.
One told me that Worlds 2027 in China will likely use all Chinese volunteers. International folks need not apply. That sounds inefficient as it would be good to have as many languages for translation on site, as possible.
On the other hand, I’d ban Netherlands from bidding on World Gymnastics FIG events for at least 10 years because the government denied visas to eligible competitors.
I’d ban Indonesia, as well. Their government did the same thing at Worlds 2025.
Aside from that ➙ all good in Rotterdam.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
For once, a Beam Final was excellent.
Who could have predicted we’d one day have a World Beam & Bars Champion representing Algeria?
Men’s Vault very good. H Bar a bit of a disappointment as so many of the top guys fell.
Worlds 2027 Chengdu, China is already in the minds of the best gymnasts in the world. The OLYMPIC QUALIFYING Worlds. I’ve already booked my accommodation.
September 29 to October 8, 2027, World Championships is held during National Day Golden Week (October 1–7). That’s a big holiday. Transportation and accommodation will be busy.
Click PLAY or watch Twists & Turns on YouTube.
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The biggest highlight was seeing Kaylia win Beam after clinching Bars the previous day. She credits her coach Nadia Massé.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
For me the biggest story at World Rotterdam was the Netherlands government denying visas to eligible gymnasts, including the defending World Champion. That won’t happen in China next year, I’m sure.
But future World Championships hosts need to get some guarantee from their governments it won’t happen again.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The best gymnasts in the world will refocus for the BIG Olympic qualifying competition hosted in Chengdu, China.
It’s the same venue that was used for Summer World University Games — the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multi-purpose Sports Arena.
September 29 to October 8, 2027, World Championships is held during National Day Golden Week (October 1–7). That’s a big holiday. Transportation and accommodation will be busy.
I booked a hostel already. Looking forward to getting back to Chengdu, the Panda city.
Chengdu is the jumping off point for trips to Tibet.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
After Pommels, this was the most exciting Apparatus Final for me.
But there were too many falls. Disappointing.
It’s great to see the superstar from Taiwan be World Champion, however. Biggest audience applause was his Wally Whirl late in the routine. Unexpected and unique.
1. Tang Chia-Hung, Taiwan, 14.966
2. Oka Shinnosuke, Japan, 14.800
3. Sergei Naidin, Russia, 14.800
4. Kawakami Shohei, Japan, 14.600
5. Jesse Moore, Australia, 14.433
6. Camilo Vera, Colombia, 13.333
7. Angel Barajas, Colombia, 13.333
8. Yumin Abbadini, Italy, 12.600
Tang Chia-Hung is a Nike sponsored athlete.
Beam was great. Floor excellent.
Judging on this apparatus is opaque to me. BUT they did get the podium right.
Maïana Prat is the full package. Excellent at everything. Took risks with her 1/2 turning leaps — but the judges seem to like them.
1. Claire Pease, United States, 13.866
2. Reese Esponda, United States, 13.566
3. Maïana Prat, France, 13.466
4. Abigail Martin, Great Britain, 13.466
5. Lia Redick, Canada, 13.300
6. Lia Monica Fontaine, Canada, 13.200
7. Lyudmila Roshchina, Russia, 13.100
8. Alice Kinsella, Great Britain, 12.966
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USA is still the team to beat on Floor. BUT Canada had the highest qualifying Team Score. GBR always good.
You know. The G.O.A.T.
Twitter says Brazil judge gave Zou Jingyuan a 10.0 execution. The first I’ve heard about since Chris Grabowecky gave the last 10 in the old 10.0 code. I’m OK with a perfect 10. It’s the greatest routine on any apparatus in the history of our sport.
This is his 5th World Championship title.
1. Zou Jingyuan, China, 15.733
2. Illia Kovtun, Croatia, 14.900
3. Daniel Marinov, Russia, 14.866
4. Hashimoto Daiki, Japan, 14.600
5. Oka Shinnosuke, Japan, 14.566
6. Arseniy Dukhno, Russia, 14.100
7. David Rumbutis, Sweden, 13.866
8. Noe Seifert, Switzerland, 12.500
I would have had Oka higher, myself.
I’m happy for Daniel, in any case, as it sounds like a judging error denied him 3rd in the All-Around competition.
Algeria has the World Bars and Beam champion.
An excellent Beam Final (for a change). Very entertaining.
TIE between the top two. Tie-breaker goes to Kaylia.
I would have Manila higher in the execution score than Kaylia. They tied at 8.266. Folks will be reviewing video trying to understand what the judges are doing.
Elena, Manila, and Skye were fantastic.
1. Kaylia Némour, Algeria, 14.566
2. Zhang Qingying, China, 14.566
3. Flavia Saraiva, Brazil, 14.300
4. Elena Colas, France, 14.100
5. Manila Esposito, Italy, 14.066
6. Skye Blakely, United States, 13.633
7. Qiu Qiyuan, China, 13.633
8. Okamura Mana, Japan, 12.666
Zhang Qingying won in 2025. Silver in 2026. Already a legend in the sport.
