Welcome to our very first (and belated) World Elite Power Ranking. Our small team created an unpublished ranking prior to the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, which is how the this initial public ranking show’s a change in position. As a refresher on our ranking process, this is not just a rank all-around score. The way we think about it is similar to how you picked teams in elementary school. Get your classmates to line up and then start selecting athletes that give you the best chance to win; whether that’s a team medal, an all-around medal or an individual medal. For example, once Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos is off the board, who’s next? Do you take Kaylia Nemour who finished 8th in the all-around, but 2nd on bars or do you go with Alice D’Amato who finished 5th in the all-around but didn’t crack the top 8 on any apparatus? We look at our power rankings as a conversation starter and can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Lastly, now that our World Power Ranking is up and running, we’ll keep it updated as we receive news and event results. Enjoy!
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Previous Ranking: 1
Duh, she can be attacked by chassés and still win. In her first World Championship appearance since 2019 Simone added an unprecedented 6th world all-around title, and added three more golds plus a silver. Finally, more decorated than Latynina.
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Previous Ranking: 2
Andrade doesn’t necessarily challenge a full-strength Simone, but she definitely pushes her. Simone’s margin for error is lessened every time this head-to-head matchup takes place. In Antwerp, Andrade matched Simone’s medal haul… and that’s a big old deal.
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Previous Ranking: 3
Ranking the current top three is easy. Shilese has cemented herself amongst the best with her 3rd place all-around showing in Antwerp to go along with her team gold and uneven bars bronze. She now has 6 world medals, passing the likes of Kyla Ross, Morgan Hurd, and Kim Zmeskal on the all-time US worlds medal rankings. In addition to the medal count, Shilese made every event final and has multiple options she can throw at anytime like a seasoned Netherlander. Oh, she’s a casual UB bronze medalist.
2
Previous Ranking: 6
In the much anticipated “Battle Bars,” it was Qiu who came out victorious. She’s the only athlete to grab an individual gold medal not named Simone or Rebeca. Qiu also just missed out on the AA podium with an impressive 4th place finish.
1
Previous Ranking: 4
Melanie not only led the French team to qualification for its home Olympics, but she went on to lead the team to a historic bronze. Melanie has the potential difficulty and form to be on any podium.
3
Previous Ranking: 9
While everyone was focused on her bars routine (rightfully so, including us), Kaylia casually finished 8th in the all-around. She hit her bars, but finished just short of Qiu to earn a silver medal—but she potentially has more difficulty to show in Paris.
13
Previous Ranking: N/A
If we had to pick a breakout star of Worlds, it would be Zhou. Coming in she was considered maybe an alternate on China’s team—a borderline athlete to make the roster. Zhou ended up making the most event finals of anyone on China’s team and posted a 14.7 to win beam silver.
10
Previous Ranking: 18
With the injuries piling up for Italy, we weren’t sure who would rise to the occasion. Manila… that’s who. Consistency struggles from last year seemed a distant memory. She’s got a big D and the E of an actual goddess. When the dust settled in Antwerp Manila was in the top 10 in the all-around and on beam.
1
Previous Ranking: 10
Flavia is life. Spencer had her ranked slightly higher and Jessica had her slightly lower. Where she falls on this list is debatable, but what’s not up for argument is how she’s aging like a fine wine; earning her first World medals. Flavia consistently hit on bars and beam to help the team to a silver medal and then she went on to win bronze on floor.
5
Previous Ranking: 5
Despite the heartbreaking ACL tear in training at Worlds, timeline-wise it is possible—though challenging—for her to rehab in time for Paris (see Antwerp to Paris comparing timelines of other elite gymnasts post-ACL). If she makes it back Jessica has the potential to be an AA medalist.
9
Previous Ranking: N/A
Several athletes really brought it in Antwerp. Melanie, Flavia and Eythora all come to mind. This is the performance we’ve always hoped for from her in an all-around final to place 6th.
8
Previous Ranking: N/A
Her glorious handspring rudi from Worlds will go down as one of the top instances we’ve ever seen of that vault, as she won bronze in the event final to sit in her medal case next to her Tokyo Olympic vault bronze.
6
Previous Ranking: 7
Black remained the bright spot for Canada at an otherwise unmemorable follow up to 2022’s team bronze medal, reaching two events finals. But uncharacteristic misses in the AA final dropped her ranking.
6
Previous Ranking: N/A
Romania is returning to the Olympics as a team, in no small part because of the performance by Sabrina. She looked especially good in the floor final where she placed 4th. Now, if she had just vaulted…
4
Previous Ranking: 11
Alice didn’t have the performance she was looking for on bars, which would have moved her up the ranks. If she hit, the podium gets very exciting. Fortunately she found her way in the AA final for a 5th-place finish to end the competition on a high.
4
Previous Ranking: N/A
Kinsella is a rock. When Gadirova had to withdraw from the all-around final due to injury, Kinsella stepped in and killed it—a true bright spot for the British team.
3
Previous Ranking: N/A
A solid all-around performance by Kishi. She found herself ahead of stars like Flavia and Elle, and just one spot behind Melanie.
2
Previous Ranking: N/A
Pauline’s qualification beam routine was one of the major highlights of Worlds and very nearly led Germany to an improbable team qualification spot for the Olympics.
9
Previous Ranking: 10
In stepping in for the injured Joscelyn Roberson in the team final, Leanne became the hero of Worlds for the United States, despite a beam fall. Leanne continues to be a solid all-arounder. Now we’ll have a few months to consider what it might portend that the U.S. decided to put her in the beam final instead of Skye Blakely.
7
Previous Ranking: 13
Speaking of Josc, entering Worlds we thought a silver medal on vault was a very reasonable prediction with her Cheng and double twisting Yurchenko-difficulty; giving her an advantage over everyone that isn’t Biles. An injury sidetracked that medal, but like Gadirova who also left the competition prematurely, we’re excited to watch the comeback.
Honorable Mentions: Kaliya Lincoln, Huang Zhuofan, Sanne Wevers, Jade Carey… and Jessica demands Gabby Douglas is mentioned even though we only have reports from camp.
Power Ranking was composed with input from Jessica O’Beirne, Spencer Barnes, and Steve Cooper
