Reese Esponda wins the 2026 U.S. Classic and barani double back’s into the World Championships conversation. We assess Katelyn Ohashi’s path forward after her elite return, whether Skye Blakely is now the Nationals favorite, Jade Carey’s Worlds prospects and how the highest-scoring U.S. team compares internationally. Plus, major Gymternet news, Commonwealth Games previews and World Championships qualification updates.
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HEADLINES
- Nadia Comăneci says Ana Barbosu’s Paris 2024 bronze medal legal defense fees will be covered
- A GymCastic Live Show is coming to the 2026 U.S. Championships in Phoenix. The show will take place immediately after the women’s final on Sunday, Club Gym Nerd members get a discount and first dibs on tickets.
US Classic Morning After Coffee Klatsch
REESE ESPONDA IS THE U.S. CLASSIC ALL-AROUND CHAMPION
- Esponda bested her top all-around score by nearly a full point here, finishing ahead of Jade Carey by almost a point, and entered the conversation as a contender for a World Championships team spot. What does she need to do at Nationals to continue this trajectory.
- Full results and video of every routine
Katelyn Ohashi’s return to elite gymnastics
- Katelyn Ohashi made her triumphant return to elite gymnastics for the first time since 2013 for her first-ever senior U.S. Classic
- Despite narrowly missing the prereuisite qualifying score for Nationals, Ohashi showed comfortable elite-level routines on beam and floor
- What are the pathways from here for Ohashi’s 2026 elite season?
Is Skye Blakely the all-around favorite for Nationals?
- Despite only competing bars and beam here, Skye Blakely showed that she could win the all-around title if she adds vault and floor back in
- What will defending U.S. all-around National Champion, Hezly Rivera look like by Nationals?
Who we’re worried and not worried about
- Is Jade Carey a shoo-in for the Worlds team? What upgrades do we think she’ll add in for Nationals?
- Leanne Wong’s injury and beam optinos
- Dulcy Caylor’s 47.950 all-around performance
- Simone Rose fell on beam and then scratched floor – smart move for the team USA stalwart
Where does the United States stand internationally with these scores?
- If Classic was a Worlds Selection meet, who would be on the top US team?
- Where does the top scoring team rank in comparison to China’s 168.498 from Asian Championships?
GYMTERNET NEWS
DUMPSTER FIRE NEWS
- Three women, including the co-owner of Longmeadow Gymnastics, face witness intimidation charges in sexual assault probe at the gym in Massachusetts
We have a new gymnastics movie!
- “Nasty” starring Rose Byrne and Jenna Ortega will follow an athlete competing for a spot on the Olympic gymnastics team and recognizes her biggest opponent is her coach
Whitlock is out of Commonwealth Games
- Triple Olympic Champion Max Whitlock, withdraws from Commonwealth Games following a hand injury
Donnell Whittenburg is out of U.S. Nationals
- Rings World Champion, Donell Whittenburg is out of Nationals (and likely Worlds) following an injury
Sam Phillips wins the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award
- The Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award celebrates commitment to leadership and service, honoring high school and college-aged students who, like Billie Jean King, use sports to improve their communities. Honorees receive either a one-time college scholarship or a grant directed to an eligible nonprofit aligned with their work
Volunteer positions are open for LA2028
Check out opportunities here
MINI COMMISSION: EFFICIENT ROUTINE CONSTRUCTION
In this mini commission, we discuss smart routine construction focusing on Dulcy Caylor and Kaylia Nemour:
1) What upgrades could Dulcy Caylor add without losing how well her routines are constructed?
2) How could Kaylia Nemour’s floor routine be changed to play to her strengths and give her a routine that matches her bars and beam routines in maximizing execution and scoring potential?
3) Bonus: In the new code, construct a routine on any apparatus for any gymnast that is as unique as Sanne’s 2016 beam was in that code (approaching routine construction with skills/combinations that are rare but equally as hard as the commonly used skills)
MEET NEWS
- The Commonwealth Games are coming this week
- Watch the Commonwealth Games in the US on the BEIN Sports channel
- Your favorites like Ellie Black, Courtney McGregor, and Tiana Sumanasekera are on the list
- Rhys freaking McClenaghan!!
- Ruby Evans headlines a strong Welsh team looking to upset the usual England, Canada, Australia powerhouse teams
- World Championships Qualifiers Update
- China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea qualify teams to Rotterdam
- North Korea qualifies a team to Worlds for the first time since 2019
- Amanda Yap (Singapore) qualifies to Worlds via an individual spot
- The Uzbekistani and Filipino men missed Worlds qualifications despite outscoring the United States and Brazil who did qualify to Worlds
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Ana Barbosu’s Legal Fees
06:51 – U.S. Classic Debrief
12:55 – Reese Esponda’s Worlds Case
21:25 – Katelyn Ohashi’s Next Move
27:07 – Skye Blakely and Jade Carey
36:39 – Who We’re Worried About
43:36 – U.S. International Standing
48:20 – Gymternet News
54:00 – Efficient Routine Construction
1:13:03 – Commonwealth Games and Worlds Qualifiers
RELATED EPISODES
- Behind The Scenes: U.S. Classic 2026 Meet Report
- Behind The Scenes: Podium Training Report U.S. Classic 2026
- Becky Downie: Paris Trauma, Fibroids and Changing British Gymnastics
- Behind the Scenes: Ohashi Is Back with Scott Bregman
- Behind the Scenes: World Cup of Ohashi
- 2025 World Championships Headquarters
UP NEXT
- Behind The Scenes our live Q&A podcast Fridays at noon Pacific
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GYMCASTIC TOOLS, GAMES AND RESOURCES
- GymCastic Tools:
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- The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer’s GIF Code of Points
- Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim
- Resistance Resources
Cover art, Skye Blakely, Jade Carey and Reese Esponda Photos © GymCastic / Steve Cooper. All rights reserved. Katlyn Ohashi photo in cover art © Melissa J. Perenson / Cal Sport Media.
