Category: bars

Read the FIG summing-up:

Vive la France, 2025 world junior team champions!

• Elena Colas, Maiana Prat and Lola Chassat became the first French women to capture a world team title in Artistic Gymnastics
• Minamino Yume, Nishiyama Misa and Ogawa Risora silver medal team for Japan
• Charleigh Bullock, Lavi Crain and Caroline Moreau (USA) took bronze

Some are wondering if USA is just another top team in 2025. I wouldn’t go that far. BUT the USA is beatable right now without Simone. Similarly, Brazil is beatable without Rebeca.

In a 3-up, 3-count team final, one consistent superstar makes a big difference.

I feel Elena’s scores are legit in comparison to the Senior scoring in Jakarta. Bars might be a tenth or two high, but I’m OK with 14.5. That performance would have won the Sr. Worlds AA title. Without question, Elena is a podium contender already in Senior.

Who’s the best Junior we’ve ever seen? I’d say Victoria Komova. But Elena is not far behind.

• Minamino Yume ➙ only the 2nd gymnast to catch a full-twisting layout Jaeger on Bars, and doing it from a jam to handstand
• I’d not realized that Helena Finc (GBR) was so good on Bars. Remember the name.
• Beam was the most exciting apparatus for me. Japan put on a clinic. It’s the top Beam nation in the world, over China, I’d say.
• HUANG Ziyi, however, had a 6.400 D-score!
• I heard from FIG that between 1/3 and 1/2 of World Junior competitors will eventually compete a Senior Worlds. It really is a stepping stone.
• 10 nations competed Jr. Worlds for the first time, including Myanmar. I was cheering for Pan Ei Phyu (Amber) who’s got great potential

• It’s great to see Saudi Arabia competing WAG at Jr Worlds. Hopefully the defacto dictator for life is sincere in allowing more freedom for girls and women.
• Very cool at Jr. Worlds is how EVERYONE has to mingle. Even the VIPs. Gymnasts, coaches, judges, media, parents, volunteers. It’s a cozy venue.
• My biggest complaint about Women’s Gymnastics in 2025 is how so many gymnasts do NOT land. They never show a complete stop. Rather hop and face the judges. Don’t try that in MAG. 😀
• Choreography on Floor is much improved.  Routines are far more entertaining than in the past.  The vague FIG artistry requirements are working.
  

Read the International Gymnast magazine summing-up:

Elena Colas steers France to women’s team gold at Junior World Championships

Full results.

Click PLAY or watch HIGHLIGHTS on YouTube.

From the Qualification Day – November 21st in Manila, Philippines.

I heard today from FIG that between 1/3 and 1/2 of these Juniors will one day compete a Senior World Championships. It really is a stepping stone.

Team

🥇 France 🇫🇷 108.432
🥈 Japan 🇯🇵 107.930
🥉 USA 🇺🇸 106.230

AA Final Qualifiers

The BIG story of the day is Elena Colas from France having a near perfect day, hitting and sticking almost everything. This performance would have won the 2025 World Senior Championships, in my opinion.

Vault Final Qualifiers

I was happy to see so many gymnasts compete two Vaults, even if they did not aspire to qualify for the Final. Good experience for the future.

Bars Final Qualifiers

Relatively few have Maloney and Van Leeuwen.

Perhaps the weakest apparatus, overall. But the finalists are excellent. Some of these qualifying routines were hit with no visible deductions. Judges have to invent -1.8 out of elbows bent, or something. 😀

Beam Final Qualifiers

There were many high difficulty mounts. It makes the apparatus more exciting. On the other hand, I was surprised how many Juniors opted to do safer dismounts ➙ Forward Layouts and with twist. Smart.

Reserve Chou Mei (Taiwan) is excellent.

Floor Final Qualifiers

Everyone agrees that artistry (whatever that is) has much improved. Gymnasts are spending more time and effort preparing choreography. Trying to tell a story with their routine.

Full RESULTS.

A few notes from the 2025 Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships MAG podium training.

Competition goes 20 to 24 November at the Marriott Grand Ballroom at the Newport World Resorts in the Metro Manila city of Pasay.

Manila Junior Worlds: Women’s podium training showcases depths of global talent

• super exciting to see all the new faces at a World Championships ➙ gymnasts and coaches
• it’s safe to say that the concept of a World Artistic Jr Championships is well accepted now. 10 more nations sent Juniors to this meet for the first time.
• we always have to admit that it’s silly to have small nations like Malta (pop. 520,000) compete against huge nations like China. That said, Algeria has an Olympic champion. It’s possible.
• it’s great to see good gymnastics from unexpected small nations. Sophie St John from Malta is a name to remember, for example.
• while level of gymnastics is mixed, I found the level of Jr. WAG mostly closer to Senior level than MAG
• myself and some of the judges I spoke with were impressed with the ARTISTRY of these young gymnasts on Floor. Entertaining choreography.
• the FIG WTC push to improve artistry on Beam and Floor worked

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

FIG posted a preview article:

• all those competing in Manila will be eligible for senior level competition by 2028 Olympics
• Competitors to watch include Elena Colas (FRA) and Muneta Rinon (JPN), the reigning women’s Junior European and Junior Asian All-Around champions, respectively. Charleigh Bullock (USA), who earned five gold medals at the Junior Pan American Games earlier this year, will lead the U.S. effort.
• Lavi Crain (USA) looked great in Podium
• Elena and team France look terrific in podium training
• the tiny gymnasts from Japan do HUGE difficult skills
• Minamino Yume full-twisting layout Jaeger from a jam to handstand
• one young gymnast not ready for full difficulty on Bars opts to compete a super clean, simple routine with Straddle Cut and Sole Circle dismount.  Maximize execution score. 
• I was surprised at the number of backward handspring tucks on Beam. Layout is normally more consistent.
• as rules still promote difficulty over execution, I’m expecting a lot of falls
• USA puts a priority on HITTING routines. I expect them to be very successful at this level.