“It was rough,” said Chellsie Memmel, a 2008 Olympic medallist and one of three USA Gymnastics women’s program leads, after the U.S. team competed in Tuesday’s (21 October) women’s qualifying at the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. “There were some very good pieces, but then there was rough. I didn’t feel like there was an attack of their events and their skills overall. There were still good things, but I have work to do.”
Her assessment came after a day that reflected a broader theme in U.S. gymnastics this week: a changing of the guard. The growing pains were evident.
With the competitive futures of superstars Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles – the veterans who claimed a redemptive team gold at Paris 2024 – still undecided, and injury keeping out reigning U.S. champion Hezly Rivera, the fifth member of that Olympic squad, expectations for Jakarta were mixed.
Still, USA Gymnastics had veterans like Leanne Wong, the 2021 world all-around runner-up, and team gold medallists Joscelyn Roberson and Skye Blakely to rely on. Newcomer Dulcy Caylor had bested them all at U.S. trials late last month.
But things got off to a rocky start Tuesday as Caylor came off the uneven bars in the squad’s opening routine. To her credit, the world debutant rebounded across the remaining three pieces and sits in provisional third in the all-around after five of 10 subdivisions.
Wong had a solid day until vault, where a balk on her first attempt – the one that counts toward her all-around total – led to an 11.733. That error dropped her to sixth in the standings.
Specialists Blakely and Roberson, both returning to the world stage after injury setbacks since 2023, each hit their two events. Blakely’s 14.166 on uneven bars was a standout and currently second in the standings, while Roberson is in the mix for a vault final berth.
Medal contenders from the People’s Republic of China and 2021 world all-around champion Angelina Melnikova are set to compete later Tuesday.
Source link
