From EssentiallySports · Maleeha Shakeel · · 1m 30s
Skye Blakely Tops U.S. Women in Worlds Qualifying After Hezly Rivera’s Withdrawal
Skye Blakely leads U.S. women’s gymnastics team to Worlds qualifying after Hezly Rivera withdraws due to injury.
In brief
Skye Blakely leads U.S. women’s gymnastics team to Worlds qualifying after Hezly Rivera withdraws due to injury. Skye Blakely scored 55.465 points in all-around gymnastics to top U.S. women at Worlds qualifying after Hezly Rivera withdrew due to left ankle injury. Originally reported by EssentiallySports.
U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team
The U.S. women’s gymnastics team entered the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships with a younger lineup after Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles were absent.
Hezly Rivera Withdraws
Hezly Rivera, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist, withdrew from Worlds qualifying on October 17 due to a left ankle injury.
Skye Blakely Leads Team
Skye Blakely scored 55.465 points in the all-around, leading the U.S. women with 14.000 on vault, 14.333 on uneven bars, 14.166 on balance beam, and 12.966 on floor exercise.
Team Performance
The American team posted a combined score of 164.529, provisionally ahead of Italy by 2.099 points with Japan trailing by 0.800 points.
Blakely’s Injuries
Blakely underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2021 after tearing her ulnar collateral ligament and missed Tokyo Olympics, then ruptured her right Achilles tendon in June 2024.
Blakely’s Emotional Reaction
Blakely shared she cried after finishing her performance, saying, 'It truly means the world to me. I’m not going to cry; I already cried.'
“It truly means the world to me. I’m not going to cry; I already cried.”
Rivera’s Second Setback
Hezly Rivera withdrew from Worlds qualifying for the second consecutive year due to a left ankle injury after rolling the same ankle in 2025.
The main idea
Skye Blakely scored 55.465 points in all-around gymnastics to top U.S. women at Worlds qualifying after Hezly Rivera withdrew due to left ankle injury.
