It was a nail-biting battle for gold in Rotterdam, with China ultimately edging out the United States women by just 0.233 points to claim their first team world title in 20 years.
The U.S. women took control early, building a nearly two-point lead after two rotations thanks to their difficulty and clean execution on vault and bars. The U.S. opened with a massive 42.633 on vault, highlighted by what were arguably the best vaults we’ve seen all year from Skye Blakely and Claire Pease. They carried that momentum onto uneven bars, where newcomer Charleigh Bullock, Pease, and Blakely all scored above 14.0 to extend their lead to 1.967 points.
But as expected, beam proved to be the deciding factor. China has a significant advantage over the U.S. on this event, and despite showing signs of nerves during qualifying, the Chinese women made a statement and rebounded in the team final — rising to the occasion which is something we haven’t always seen from them when the bright lights are on. Zhang Qingying led the way with a massive 15.066, the highest individual score of the competition, while Ke Qinqin and Qiu Qiyuan also delivered huge routines with stunning execution.
For the U.S, an unfortunate fall from Dulcy Caylor on her dismount, combined with a rejected inquiry for Skye Blakely’s beam routine, in which her switch half did not receive credit, proved costly. Together, the errors represented nearly two points in lost potential, giving China a 2.200 point lead heading into the final rotation.
The door was still open for the U.S. to mount a comeback on floor, but China was firmly in the driver’s seat and — barring a major mistake — looked poised to claim the title. The U.S. needed a big score from newcomer Reese Esponda to have any chance at closing the gap, but her less than clean landings ultimately did the U.S. in. Qiu Qiyuan needed just a 12.600 to clinch the title for China (she scored a 12.800 in qualifying) and she did exactly what her team needed, delivering a 12.833 to seal the deal.
In the end, China captured gold for the first time in 20 years, edging out the U.S. by just 0.233 points. The difference came down to consistency, with the Chinese hitting all of their routines when it mattered most. They were the only team to not count a fall.
While the U.S. may feel the sting of falling just short in Rotterdam, the future is very bright. The battle for gold was closer than some may have expected and there’s still plenty of time between now and LA 2028 for upgrades to be added in and for veterans to return. The beautiful thing about this experience is just that — it’s an experience for many of these young athletes who are competing on the world’s largest stage for the first time. Confidence is being built, lessons learned, and the fire has been re-lit.
China, the U.S., and Japan (who won their first team medal at a World Championships in 60 years!) have all secured team quota spots for the 2028 Olympics, setting the stage for what should be an exciting battle in Los Angeles.
Final Standings
1. China — 165.764
2. United States — 165.531
3. Japan — 164.063
4. France — 161.130
5. Brazil — 159.730
6. WG2/Russia — 159.394
7. Italy — 158.129
8. Canada — 158.096