What MEN made history at the World Gymnastics Championships 2025?
Mamikon Khachatryan and Hamlet Manukyan (both amazing), Zou Jingyuan (4th gold on P Bars), Angel Barajas, Omar Mohamed, Dagur Olafsson, Sebastian Sponevik, Jameel Ali, and many more.
Gymnasts warm-up in the arena for Event Finals. This competition is LONG, of course, with only 1 routine at a time, so many go back to the training Gym to stay warmed-up.
I expected Deng to medal. Warm-ups were strong. But she ran over the horse and got a zero on her first vault. Judges wouldn’t let her do a second.
Schönmaier tried upgrading to Cheng — but lost 2.0 for using only 1 hand.
16-year-old Lia-Monica Fontaine is the breakout star on Vault. Tons of potential here. And very good in the AA, as well. She’s destined to be on the Canadian team for years to come.
Zoja Szekely did a good routine, but couldn’t land her dismount. I understand she was too injured from Vault the previous day. I admire her courage. But with 20 / 20 hindsight, she should have withdrawn and let the Reserve gymnast go.
This sets up Donnell for the coming quadrennial. USA can always use a top Ring man who can compete other apparatus, if needed. Along with Asher Hong, it would not be a weak event.
Zhang Boheng and Adem Asil are incredibly good at Rings for AA gymnasts.
One of the great analysis sites of Men’s Gymnastics is “Zhoxxyy”
Here’s a sample:
Jakarta 2025 Qualifications Review
For each of the events, the Hits, the Misses and the Surprises will be reviewed.
Floor
Jake Jarman (GBR): the bronze medalist at the 2024 Games totally delivered with a tough routine (and didn’t fall…) Carlos Yulo (PHI): the Olympic champion nailed it again with his awesome execution. He may increase his D score in the final Kameron Nelson (USA): 1st World Championships, 1st gymnast to include 2 triple backs in the same routine. It paid off Minami Kazuki (JPN): 2X silver medalist on FX at WC, one of the best Japanese FX specialists Milad Karimi (KAZ): regularly qualifies for FX finals and won bronze in Antwerp. Solid routine. Luke Whitehouse (GBR): the 3X European Champion is the 2nd Brit in the final
Several gymnasts have reported difficulties with the Taishan floor podiums, noting that numerous athletes experienced falls, particularly during double fronts. Harry Hepworth (GBR): he got luckier on rings; out of the three British FX guys, one was bound to trip up and miss the final (he fell after his double front) Ray Zapata (ESP): the Tokyo silver medalist and Paris finalist had a bummer of a fall during his tuck double front, but his routine was pretty solid overall Eddie & Kevin Penev (BUL): the Penev Brothers provide an enjoyable viewing experience; Kevin is the third reserve and Eddie attained a slightly lower score.
Tikumporn Suritornta (THA): I don’t think many people predicted the qualification of the 27 year old gymnast from Samut Sakhon in Thailand. Great surprise and great upset! Krisztofer Mészáros (HUN): It’s kinda a surprise, but not really, since Titi is all about those floor podiums. Super cool to see him make it to the finals in Jakarta
Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo advanced to the floor exercise and vault finals of the 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking a strong comeback to the international stage.https://t.co/SibEzwJrB9
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.
Event Leaders after Day 1 of Qualifications at the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships (Day 2 still to come) pic.twitter.com/h8K0HiGb42
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:
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 Honginjured 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.
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.
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.
She's done it! Coming after a strong double-twisting Yurchenko opener, Abigail Martin's 🇬🇧 superb Lopez vault helps her clinch her first #FIGWorldCup title! #Gymnastics
Back in the arena where he won a historic Olympic 🥈 for his nation at #Paris2024, Nariman Kurbanov 🇰🇿 comes through with gold today, topping two extraordinary young challengers! 🥇