Rivera wins US gymnastics title

Seventeen-year-old Hezly Rivera claims her first national title and positions herself to anchor the US team at the world championships.

Rivera wins US gymnastics title to lead world team

NEW ORLEANS, 17-year-old Hezly Rivera captured her first national title at the US Gymnastics Championships with a two-day total of 112.000, edging Leanne Wong and becoming the youngest member of a five-woman squad with Olympic pedigree. Rivera’s beam and floor routines looked sharper than at the prior meet, and her consistency helped her secure a spot in the world championships selection camp next month on the road to Jakarta this October.

Rivera’s victory comes as the US program blends youth with veteran experience. Wong, a four-time world medalist, and Joscelyn Roberson pushed Rivera throughout the competition, while Skye Blakely posted solid showings on bars and balance beam. Roberson battled an ankle issue during the final floor routine but finished strong, signaling the depth the team can lean on as it aims for a strong showing at the world championships.

Rivera’s win signals a shift in US women’s gymnastics toward a broader, younger core that can carry leadership duties alongside the sport’s established stars. The rise of Rivera alongside Wong and Roberson highlights a healthy balance between mentorship and competition, rather than a single-savior narrative. The team’s strength will be tested again in Jakarta, where the world championship lineup will be finalized and where the next generation must show it can sustain performance under pressure.

If Rivera can maintain edge across all events and manage the inevitable nerves of big meets, she could become a reliable anchor for the 2028 Olympic cycle. The depth shown by her peers also suggests the United States can navigate injuries and schedule conflicts while remaining a title contender on the world stage.

Highlights

Jakarta will test how far this new generation can carry USA Gymnastics