Rivera leads at nationals

Rivera, the youngest U S Olympian in Paris, could become the youngest U S all around champion since 2017.

Hezly Rivera leads U S Gymnastics Championships year after Olympic gold

Rivera, the youngest U S Olympian across all sports in Paris, tops the standings after the first day of the Xfinity U S Gymnastics Championships with 55.6 points, two tenths ahead of Joscelyn Roberson in New Orleans. Leanne Wong sits third as Rivera heads into Sunday’s final, which airs at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. If she wins, the 17-year-old would be the youngest U S all around champion since Ragan Smith in 2017 and would join a small group of Americans to win Olympic gold and a national title since 2000.

Rivera opened the Paris Olympic season with a 24th at the U S Classic, about a week after her grandmother died. She climbed to sixth in her senior nationals debut and then fifth at the Olympic Trials, earning a spot as the lone rookie on the Olympic team alongside stars Biles, Lee, Carey and Chiles. In Paris, she competed on uneven bars and balance beam in the qualifying round, helping the team win gold. Rivera left Paris as the youngest U S Olympic gold medalist in any sport since 2012 and remains focused on what comes next. Rivera said she is training as if the Olympics are in the rear view, while recognizing there is more to accomplish.

Nationals set the stage for worlds selection, with spots at the Jakarta championships in October determined after a autumn selection meet and considering nationals results and other 2025 meets. Those four spots are allocated based on a combination of current form and past results, underscoring how the next few weeks will shape the federation’s direction for the Worlds.

Rivera’s surge signals a possible generational shift for U S gymnastics, as a new wave steps into a spotlight once dominated by a stable of Olympic champions. With several veteran teammates taking the season off, Rivera has room to grow, but the scrutiny will intensify as the path to Worlds converges with expectations for a young star to carry the program forward.

The Nationals are more than a title run. They serve as a litmus test for readiness ahead of Worlds and for the sport’s sponsors and broadcasters, who want a story of continuity and possibility. The risk is balancing ambition with sustainability, ensuring a smooth transition from Olympic high to the grind of global qualification.

Highlights

The next results will test whether Rivera can translate early momentum into a sustained national title run.