Elite comeback summer is officially here, and the road to the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships runs through the U.S. Classic in Hartford. We preview every major Classic storyline, including Katelyn Ohashi’s return to elite gymnastics at age 29, Skye Blakely’s first elite all-around competition since 2024, Jade Carey’s gradual return to full difficulty, and Leanne Wong’s first competition since winning the 2025 World all-around silver medal.
We also hear directly from Ohashi and Blakely, explain the qualification stakes, and identify the gymnasts and routines to watch. Plus, we catch up on the latest gymternet news, including Laurie Hernandez officially official coming out post, Shilese Jones’ criticism of USA Gymnastics leadership, NCAA eligibility changes, Romanian gymnastics drama, Tiana Sumanasekera’s move to Sri Lanka, and Qatar’s effort to recruit young French gymnasts.
Before competition begins, build your team for the 2026 U.S. Classic Fantasy Challenge. Lineups lock Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
HOW TO WATCH THE 2026 U.S. CLASSIC
- Friday, July 17
- Senior Women’s Podium Training: 2:00 p.m. Eastern / 11:00 a.m. Pacific on FlipNow
- GymCastic live show: Join our live Behind the Scenes podcast from Hartford at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern / 1:30 p.m. Pacific.
- Saturday, July 18
- Junior Women’s Competition: 2:00 p.m. Eastern / 11:00 a.m. Pacific
- Senior Women’s Competition: 7:00 p.m. Eastern / 4:00 p.m. Pacific on Peacock/NBC
- GymCastic live show: Join our live post-meet Behind the Scenes podcast at approximately 9:30 p.m. Eastern / 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
PLAY THE U.S. CLASSIC FANTASY GAME
- Build your team for the 2026 U.S. Classic Fantasy Challenge.
- Use GymCastic’s Elite Score Explorer to compare gymnasts and choose your lineup.
- Lineups lock: Saturday, July 18 at 6:45 p.m. Eastern / 3:45 p.m. Pacific.
HEADLINES
- Sarah Shire Brown has been named head coach of the new Texas State gymnastics program after serving as head coach at Penn State.
- The Iowa State athletic director who eliminated the school’s gymnastics program is conveniently retiring.
- 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.
2026 U.S. CLASSIC PREVIEW
What Are the Stakes?
The U.S. Classic is the final opportunity to qualify for the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Athletes who have not already qualified need one of the following scores:
- All-around: 52.500
- Three events: 39.600
- Two events: 26.800
Katelyn Ohashi, Ally Damelio and Gabrielle Hardie are among the gymnasts still pursuing a qualifying score. Members of the 2025 World Championships team, including Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong, are already qualified.
Katelyn Ohashi’s Elite Comeback
- At age 29, Ohashi is attempting to qualify for the first senior U.S. Championships of her career.
- She told us she had completely forgotten that she had never competed at a senior U.S. Championships and described qualifying as her “ultimate goal.”
- Ohashi may perform a combination of familiar skills from her past and brand-new elements.
- She is prioritizing beam and floor but plans to test uneven bars after the current competition season.
- We calculate what she needs on beam and floor to reach the two-event qualifying score and debate whether an Ohashi wildcard should exist if fewer than 24 athletes qualify.
The Florida Gators Return to Elite
- Skye Blakely: The two-time World team champion has not competed elite all-around since 2024. We hear what she said about her vault plans and discuss whether her previous elite level would be enough to win the meet.
- Leanne Wong: The defending World all-around silver medalist returns after her longest competitive break since the pandemic. How will she perform without the regular competition numbers of an NCAA season?
Jade Carey’s Final Chapter
- The Olympic floor champion and vault medalist earned her Championships qualifying score at American Classic without performing her full difficulty.
- Carey took approximately 10 months away from competition and dealt with a hip injury that kept her from vault training for several weeks.
- We discuss whether she will begin adding back her Cheng vault and more difficult tumbling at Classic or wait until Championships.
- Read Scott Bregman’s interview with Jade Carey about the final chapter of her gymnastics career.
Gymnasts and Routines to Watch
- Reese Esponda: Her floor routine is pushing toward the 14 range, with smart composition and code hacking to watch.
- Dulcy Caylor: The 2025 World all-around finalist continues to maximize execution rather than relying only on difficulty.
- Tatum Drusch: Her beam routine checks the literal artistry boxes, including amplitude and rhythm.
- Charleigh Bullock: She has become one of Team USA’s most reliable bars workers, with major difficulty, Stalder work and actual choreography rather than a pose-a-thon.
- Simone Rose: Watch for upgraded beam work and continued experimentation with her most efficient floor and bars constructions.
GYMTERNET NEWS
Laurie Hernandez Makes It Official Official
- Laurie Hernandez publicly confirmed her relationship with Olympic trampolinist Charlotte Drury. See the post.
The “Unfinished Business” Headline Problem
- We examine the tendency to describe every Olympic comeback as “unfinished business,” even when the gymnasts themselves have said no such thing.
- Ohashi described her return as a “melting pot of reasons,” including curiosity about what her body can still do and a Code of Points that better rewards her strengths.
- Carey said she did not want to regret failing to give elite gymnastics one more attempt.
Romanian Gymnastics Update
- A Bucharest court temporarily suspended the Romanian Gymnastics Federation’s ban of Camelia Voinea while her case continues. Read the report.
- A forensic medical examination reportedly found bruises and abrasions on Romanian gymnast Șerban Cotîrlan following an alleged altercation with Sabrina Voinea. Read the report.
Tiana Sumanasekera Will Represent Sri Lanka
- Tiana Sumanasekera announced that she will compete internationally for Sri Lanka. See her announcement.
Qatar Is Shopping for Gymnasts
- Qatar hired Marc and Gina Chirilcenco, the former coaches of Kaylia Nemour, as part of an effort to develop a competitive national program before hosting the 2030 Asian Games.
- French officials have expressed concern about young French gymnasts being recruited to train in Qatar. Read L’Équipe’s report.
- We discuss reports that French minors between ages 13 and 16 have already attended training camps in Qatar, the country’s history of naturalizing athletes, and the legal restrictions women may face there.
Suspensions, Arrests and Investigations
- Russian gymnast Daniil Kuzmin accepted a three-year doping suspension after testing positive for boldenone. His results following the test were disqualified. Read the report.
- Las Vegas children’s gymnastics coach Michael Nestor was arrested and faces kidnapping and lewdness charges involving a child under 14. Read the report.
- The IOC lifted Russia’s suspension, potentially clearing a path for Russian athletes to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while allowing individual sports to make their own eligibility decisions. Read the report.
Shilese Jones Calls Out USA Gymnastics Leadership
- Shilese Jones said she felt abandoned by USA Gymnastics leadership after suffering her injury at the 2024 Olympic Trials and described the lack of support as another source of pain. Read her statement.
NCAA Adopts New Age-Based Eligibility Rules
- The NCAA adopted a single age-based eligibility system that gives athletes five years and replaces several sport-specific rules and waiver processes.
- The changes are scheduled to be fully implemented for the fall 2027 incoming class, with exceptions for military service, religious missions and pregnancy. Read the NCAA announcement.
RELATED EPISODES
- 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
LIVE FROM CLASSIC IN HARTFORD
- Friday, July 17: Live podium-training recap and Q&A at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern / 1:30 p.m. Pacific.
- Saturday, July 18: Live post-meet show following the senior women’s competition at approximately 9:30 p.m. Eastern / 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
Both shows are available to Club Gym Nerd members through our Behind the Scenes page. Replays are available in the members’ podcast feed.
LIVE SHOW AT U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PHOENIX
- The live show will take place Sunday immediately after the women’s final.
- Club Gym Nerd members will receive first access to tickets.
- We will discuss the meet immediately after it happens—and you never know who will appear at a GymCastic live show.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
- Club Gym Nerd: Join Club Gym Nerd for weekly Behind the Scenes episodes, our complete members-only archive, games, the forum and live-show discounts.
- Shop GymCastic: Shop merch.
GYMCASTIC TOOLS, GAMES AND RESOURCES
- GymCastic tools: LA 2028 Roster Lab, Elite Score Explorer and the International Gymnastics Calendar
- GymCastic Games
- GymCastic Newsletters
- 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 and photograph © GymCastic / Steve Cooper. All rights reserved.
