Olympic Gold Medalist Hezly Rivera Rallies to Capture Second Straight U.S. Women's Gymnastics Title
Rivera posted a 111.950 total and finished more than 1 point ahead of Claire Pease after recovering from a Thursday fall.
- On Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, 18-year-old Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera successfully defended her all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix, finishing with a two-day combined score of 111.950.
- Rivera entered the final day in fourth place after falling face-first on uneven bars on Thursday, but the defending champion rallied with four professional routines to overtake the field.
- Runner-Up Claire Pease finished with 110.8, her floor routine marred by out-of-bounds deductions. Charleigh Bullock took third with 110.55, followed by Reese Esponda at 108.9 and Jade Carey at 108.75.
- Her victory makes Rivera the first American woman not named Simone Biles to win back-to-back national titles since former world and Olympic champion Jordyn Wieber accomplished the feat in 2010 and 2011.
- Athletes are now vying for the five-person Team USA roster at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in October, marking a key qualification opportunity for the LA28 Olympics.
73 Articles
73 Articles
Hezly Riveraen became the first American gymnast not called Simone Biles to chain two consecutive individual championships
Montana Standard
Comeback shows gymnast Hezly Rivera has grit to thrive on world stage
Hezly Rivera showcased remarkable resilience and mental strength to win her second U.S. gymnastics title, solidifying her role as a key leader for the U.S. team ahead of the 2025 World Championships and the LA28 Olympics qualification.
Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera rallies to capture her 2nd straight US women’s gymnastics title
Hezly Rivera won her second straight national title with a poised and polished performance that solidified her status as the current face of a women’s program two years out from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Hezly Rivera becomes first US woman after Simone Biles to win back-to-back gymnastics titles since 2012
Hezly Rivera secured her second consecutive US women's gymnastics title. She overcame an earlier fall on the uneven bars to achieve this victory. Rivera's performance secured her a two-day total of 111.950 points. This win makes her the first American woman since Jordyn Wieber to achieve back-to-back national titles. Rivera has continued competing while other Olympians took breaks from the sport.
LSU gymnastics commitment, Olympian Hezly Rivera repeats as U.S. all-around champion
In the past 20 years under the current scoring system, no woman had come back from fourth place entering the final day of competition to win the U.S. Gymnastics Championships
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