Men’s Jr Worlds Gymnastics AA Final HIGHLIGHTS

Read the FIG summing-up:

Minamino and Dukhno grab Junior World All-Around titles on a night of surprises in the Philippines

Arsenii Dukhno is an amazing talent who’s only challenge for the future in Senior is a lack of Ring strength holds. BUT he had a fall on the last apparatus — H Bar — and we wondered if he could stay ahead of the terrific competition. It was an excellent meet with relatively few errors from the top group.

  1. Arsenii Dukhno AIN 82.031
  2. Ojima Nao JPN 81.799
  3. Yang Lanbin 81.099
  4. Danila Leykin USA 79.866
  5. Simone Speranza ITA 79.032
  6. Sol Scott GBR 78.997
  7. Nael Sakouhi FRA 78.932
  8. Karl Yulo PHI 78.731
  9. Wang Chengcheng CHI 78.365
  10. Evan McPhillips GBR 77.866

Full Results.

A few notes from the 2025 Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Men’s All-around FINAL.

  • Danila Leykin looks to have potential to qualify for Senior U.S. teams. He could be a counting score on P Bars and H Bar already. Pommels could get there, as well.
  • is Philippines the fastest improving Gymnastics nation? With Karl Eldrew joining his brother in Senior … look out.
  • volume way too high in that small hotel ballroom. My noise cancelling headphones helped.
  • I’m wondering if we need announce every inquiry to the arena audience. Better would be to announce ONLY those scores that change. It was definitely a distraction. Also, why are the judges changing so many D-scores? Get it right in the first place.
  • remember the name ➙ Volodymyr Golovin (Ukraine)
  • Canadian Thomas Tittley withdrew from the World Jr Gymnastics Championships due to a neck injury suffered training H Bar just before Podium Training. Happily, it turned out to be minor.
  • Simone Speranza amazing Triple Tuck knees together STICK 🇮🇹 on Rings. Once FIG rules change in 2026, I expect many to stop using Triple Back dismount. But not Simone.
  • GREAT for the fans to have gymnasts on all 6 apparatus. The meet might be rushed for the gymnasts, however.
  • In Győr, Hungary 2019, the Jr. winner was Shinnosuke Oka who went on to be Olympic champion.

World Jr Gymnastics Champion MINAMINO Yume

Elena Colas is the best gymnast. BUT MINAMINO Yume was the best gymnast today at the AA Final. She really put together a terrific 4 routines. Congratulations.

Full results.

In Győr, Hungary 2019 the Jr. winner was Viktoria Listunova, the best Junior of all-time, I’d argue.

In Antalya, Turkey 2023 the Jr. winner was Nakamura Haruka, an Olympian a year later.

2025 World Jr Gymnastics Champion Arseny Dukhno

Congratulations to Danila LEYKIN (USA) who finished 4th.

And to home town hero Karl Eldrew Yulo who finished 8th.

Full results.

Amazingly, Arseny Dukhno still won the title despite falling on H Bar, his last apparatus. He had been near perfect over the previous 11 routines.

Arseny has no B-strength on Rings — but still scores well with swing skills and a Triple Tuck dismount.

In Győr, Hungary 2019 the Jr. winner was Shinnosuke Oka who went on to be the Olympic champion.

In Antalya, Turkey 2023 the Jr. winner was Qin Guohuan. Ángel Barajas was second.

I’m sure Arseny was wondering if he’d ever get a chance to compete in an FIG Worlds. He comes from the banned Putin dictatorship.

Philippines the fastest improving Gymnastics nation?

I led a week long Olympic Solidarity coaching course in Manila in 2011.

MAG and WAG.

Gymnastics Coaching Course, Manila, Philippines
Gymnastics Coaching Course, Manila, Philippines

Gymnastics was not well developed at that time. Good facilities just being built.

BUT it was obvious that the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines was passionate and determined to build.

Not too many years later they had a World and Olympic champion in Carlos Yulo.

This is only the 36th largest economy of the world.

Both MAG and WAG Artistic programs have grown quickly. What other nation has done so much in so few years?

They are still improving.

I share my excitement and profound optimism for the Philippines’ turn on the world stage. Long dominated by gymnastics powerhouses, the hosting of a global event by this beautiful island country is a tribute to FIG’s inclusivity and to humanity’s aspirations for independence and global solidarity.

FIG President Watanabe

Women’s Jr Worlds Qualification HIGHLIGHTS

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.

Jr Gymnastics Worlds ’25 RESULTS

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.

Men’s Jr Worlds Qualification HIGHLIGHTS

Read the FIG summing-up:

Chinese men strike gold as Junior World Championships get underway in Manila

  • Yang Lanbin, Wang Chengcheng and Zheng Ao 1st Jr. Men’s World team title
  • Arsenii Dukhno (AIN) leads in the All-Around with 82.065 despite a major error on P Bars and minor problems on H Bar.  First on Floor and Vault. 
  • Karl Eldrew Yulo (PHI), the younger brother of Olympic champion Carlos Yulo, was the gymnast most cheered.  Very similar at the same age.  Eldrew qualified for Floor, Vault, H Bar and All-Around Finals. 
  • Danila Leykin (USA) leads on P Bars and H Bar with terrific and interesting routines.  USA very excited about finishing Bronze in team.  

Watching Podium training, I expected a lot of falls. BUT performances in competition were good, overall.

Falls mostly on:

  • Double Front on Floor
  • Under-rotated H Bar dismounts
  • Pommels, especially dismounts

Many fell on Vault landings, but not many felt unsafe. Most of the nations made good decisions on difficulty.

  • Remember the name ➙ Nikita Netreba, Poland.
  • Remember the name ➙ Aaron Esner, Netherlands.  Tons of potential. 

Looks to me like we will have more 1/1 twisting Double Tuck dismounts off P Bars in the future. Evan McPhillips (GBR) and Dukhno, for example. All 3 Colombia gymnasts used Flyaway 1/1 twisting Double Tuck dismounts off the end.

Hey. Could Colombia qualify a full team to the L.A. Olympics? They have 2 very strong all-around gymnasts in Ángel Barajas and Camilo Vera.

I recall well when Taiwan qualified a full men’s team unexpectedly. It could happen again.

  • pinning numbers on gymnasts in competition is unnecessary and stupid
  • pinning numbers on gymnasts in competition is unnecessary and stupid
  • pinning numbers on gymnasts in competition is unnecessary and stupid

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Men’s Jr Worlds ’25 RESULTS

From the Qualification Day – November 20

Team

China, Japan, USA

Without watching scores, I’d ASSuMEd Japan had beaten China due to higher difficulty. I was way wrong.

AA Final Qualifiers

Arsenii Dukhno from that Putin nation was easily the top AA gymnast. And he did not have a perfect competition. He’ll definitely contend in the AA at the Los Angeles Olympics. Amazing Vault and Tumbling for a gymnast with a build more suited to swinging.

Floor Final Qualifiers

Pommel Final Qualifiers

Rings Final Qualifiers

Vault Final Qualifiers

P Bars Final Qualifiers

H Bar Finał Qualifiers

Patrick Kiens & Daymon Jones’ interview

An excellent podcast.

Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones, now at WCC Texas, previously coach the Romanian team.