We preview the 2026 U.S. World Team Selection Camp, including the automatic qualification race, team scenarios, upgrades and wildcards; catch up on Worlds withdrawals, new team announcements and Asian Games drama; and celebrate the gymnastics moments giving us feelings this week. Then we dive into your feedback and questions about Andrew Chupp and the adult gymnastics revolution, the origin of “Take Off on Gay,” spironolactone and drug testing, PCOS, a 2021 Tokyo Olympics rewatch, GymCastic lore, the shortage of U.S. Brevet judges ahead of LA 2028, Carlos Yulo at the Asian Games, women’s health, and more — plus what’s coming next from World Team Selection Camp and the road to Rotterdam Worlds.
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Rotterdam World Selection Camp Preview
We’re giving everyone a taste of Behind The Scenes, our weekly live Club Gym Nerd Q&A show! We preview the 2026 U.S. World Team Selection Camp, including the automatic qualification math, Hezly Rivera (USA), Claire Pease (USA) and Charleigh Bullock (USA) battling for automatic spots, the upgrades and wildcards that could change the team, and what we’ll be watching for in Tennessee.
Asian Games & Rotterdam Roster Updates
Plus, Asian Games drama and gymnastics joy, your feedback on our Adult Gymnastics Revolution interview with Andrew Chupp, the origin of “Take Off on Gay,” an important spironolactone anti-doping warning, a 2021 Tokyo Olympics rewatch, GymCastic lore, the potential shortage of U.S. Brevet judges ahead of LA 2028, and your questions.
We’ll be at U.S. World Team Selection Camp in Tennessee with a live podcast after Day One and more behind-the-scenes coverage for Club Gym Nerd members. The selection procedures use two automatic spots, with 60% coming from the September 30 all-around score and 40% from the cumulative Nationals total.
RELATED LINKS
- Listen to our interview with Andrew Chupp: Adult Gymnastics Revolution
- New to the show? Get caught up on inside jokes, terminology and show history with the GymCastic Lore explainer in the forum
- Learn the origin story behind our sign-off in Behind The Scenes: Why We Take Off on Gay
- USADA explains why spironolactone can cause an athlete to test positive
- Johns Hopkins Medicine explains PCOS / PMOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
- USA Gymnastics: how to watch the 2026 Women’s World Team Selection Event
- Read: Morinari Watanabe: Russian Lobbying and Financial Flows in World Gymnastics
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Welcome to Behind The Scenes
03:15 – World Team Withdrawals & Breaking News
09:45 – Asian Games Drama
23:53 – U.S. World Team Selection Camp Preview
27:12 – Automatic Spots & Team Contenders
31:52 – Jade Carey, Upgrades & Team Scenarios
46:11 – Gymnastics Feelings: Hengameh Hadiani of Iran
58:11 – Andrew Chupp & “Take Off on Gay”
01:00:59 – Spironolactone, PCOS & Drug Testing
01:02:52 – Rewatching the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
01:08:49 – GymCastic Lore & U.S. Brevet Judges
01:12:42 – Carlos Yulo & Asian Games Feedback
01:13:23 – Women’s Health & Happy Things
01:16:30 – Selection Camp Coverage & What’s Next
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GYMCASTIC TOOLS, GAMES AND RESOURCES
- *NEW* ROTTERDAM WORLDS ROSTER TRACKER
- Find out who’s competing in the 2026 World Championships — search WAG and MAG by name or country, find out how they qualified and link to their score rankings. Updated daily.
- GymCastic tools:
- LA 2028 Roster Lab — Now with auto-fill highest-scoring team, team comparisons and updated roster briefs.
- Elite Score Explorer — U.S. Championships scores are in, plus new charting options and the vault bonus toggle.
- International Gymnastics Calendar
- GymCastic Games
- GymCastic Newsletters
- The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer Barnes’ GIF Code of Points
- Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim
- Resistance Resources
Cover art © GymCastic / Steve Cooper. All rights reserved
