Tag: sports

Summing-up Rotterdam Worlds TEAM FINAL – China wins.

The Women’s Team Final 2026 was excellent this year — better than I expected. And far better than the Men’s Team Final.

Results.

Automatic qualification as teams to Olympics 2028 for the top three.

1. China – 165.764
2. USA – 165.531
3. Japan – 164.064

  1. France – 161.130
  2. Brazil – 159.730
  3. WG2 Russia – 159.394
  4. Italy – 158.129
  5. Canada – 158.096

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Pundit Analysis

Surprises

  • Fujitsu video analysis has coaches worried that skills credited in the past will suddenly be downgraded. I want computer video analysis integrated into the score as soon as possible. It’s really helped Trampoline.
  • Nobody watching Skye’s Beam worried that she wasn’t getting credit for her Switch Half and series. Credit to the judges, by exacting evaluation of the rules, it wasn’t rotated far enough. The best way to solve this problem would be to devalue Switch Half.
  • Roshchina missed her Dance Combo requirement on Beam. Didn’t seem to have a back-up planned for later in the routine.
  • Manila fell on Beam dismount. Impossible. I’m blocking that from my memory.

Highlights

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

  • China finally winning Gold was my highlight. I recall ALL the World Championships in the past where China won the Men’s Team — and the women were 4th. This time the ladies are Gold medalists on the flight home.
  • Japan so happy with the Bronze podium finish — fantastic.
  • Fujitsu Awards go to the Women’s Team of Japan, first team medal in 60 years. And the Men’s Team of host Netherlands.
  • Newcomer Coralie DEMERS (from Gymnix, Canada) swings like a dream on Bars.
  • Lia-Monica Fontaine from Canada is now age-17. Her 2nd World Championships. A future all-around star with tremendous potential on Floor and Vault.
  • Elena Colas, age 16, is already an AA podium contender. Imagine a scenario where she and Kaylia Nemour were both competing for France. … What could have been.
  • Pease has the best controlled Wolf turn on Beam. WTC should devalue those.
  • Rebeca back at Worlds. Wonderful for Brazil and everyone.
  • Claire Pease was terrific, scoring a competition high 56.099 if there was an AA during Team
  • Without Simone, there’s much more parity in the Team competition. In an exciting 3-up, 3-count Final, many more nations have a chance to medal. For Japan it’s been 60 years since their last podium finish.
  • Floor scores made more sense than in the qualification round. I’m still convinced that choreography was best ever in 2026. Nations like China and USA much more entertaining.
  • As a Canadian, I was pleased Ellie Black’s team qualified for the Final. Recall they qualified 8th four years ago, finishing 3rd in Team, qualifying to the Paris Olympics. That didn’t happen this year due to BEAM. (3 falls in qualifying, 2 falls in Team) But this might be Canada’s strongest team ever — when they stay on the skinny Floor.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Men’s Jakarta Worlds qualification day 1

Oct 19, 2025 we had SIX subdivisions of the best male gymnasts in the world. Two more subdivisions go Oct 20 — with a much better idea what they need to do to make the apparatus final? Triple back? Or go safe?

Leaders so far.

Since there is no team competition this time, gymnasts are looking to qualify to Apparatus and/or AA Finals. Some have a goal to improve their previous best ranking at Worlds.

Read the FIG summing-up of Day 1 Men’s competition:

Difficulty — and difficulties — take centre stage as curtain rises on World Championships in Jakarta

TheGymternet is trying a LIVE blog from the international video feed. 

Kensley Behel is posting to Twitter.  You MIGHT have to log in to X.com in order to see those public tweets.

A few notes I took over 12 hours of competition:

Worst news of the day was hearing Asher Hong injured in training on Floor. He had to withdraw.

There were more falls and mistakes than I expected. And it wasn’t always gambling on Triple Back. In fact, most of the Triples were quite safe. Some will keep that dismount even after FIG devalues Jan. 2026.

  • JAPAN in the 1st subdivision.
  • One audience concern with this Individual format for Worlds is that some apparatus are empty when none of the gymnasts in the group have decided to compete that event.
  • Judging was VERY SLOOOWWW to start.
  • Daiki Hashimoto looks good to win the AA at Worlds 2025. He’s easily leading the all-around qualification scores, despite errors.
  • I predicted the other Olympic champion, OKA Shinnosuke, to be top 2 AA — but he had many problems in the qualification round. Hopefully he can get it together in the Final.
  • Tarrab from Syria stuck Handspring Double Front on Vault.  Excellent gymnasts here from all over the world. 
  • All 3 Japanese gymnasts are using Liukin on H Bar. It’s the cool new skill to add for the top gymnasts.
  • Minami on Floor has awesome difficulty.  He could win the Floor final with better control.

Good news story for those following Donnell Whittenburg‘s long, long career is that he’s having his best Worlds ever. Many questioned whether he’s still got it at age-31. The answer is … YES.

LEGEND. And lesson in persistence.

  • Kameron Nelson competed his best Floor ever since he started including 2 Triples. Respect. His mom, coach and judge, is here cheering with us.
  • Caio Souza from Brazil is looking better than ever.
  • Fan favourite Milad Karimi looks great, as well.
  • Two teams I love to watch: Swiss men and Swedish women. Over the years those programs emphasize form, line, rhythm, artistry.
  • We already know Angel Barajas is a superstar at age-19. 4th AA with 80.664 after day 1.
  • Talking to some of the male gymnasts … They like the Floor in the competition arena and warm-up Gym. On podium. Dislike the same Floor in the training Gym, on concrete. It’s too hard.
  • I’m thrilled there are very few Rybalko skills on H Bar at Worlds. It’s nearly impossible to do those skills well.
  • Pommels Final is the most competitive with all the specialists here. Surprisingly, I’d say H Bar is the 2nd most competitive. Vault has been weak compared with previous Worlds.