China dramatically halted the United States’ bid for an eighth consecutive women’s team title at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam, securing gold following the final event on Wednesday. Needing a score higher than 12.600 on her closing floor routine, Qiu Qiyuan held her nerve under intense pressure to post 12.833, giving China their first women’s team world crown since 2006.
China, having previously topped the qualifying rounds, posted a winning total of 165.764 points. The Americans finished just 0.233 points behind to take silver, while Japan landed 1.468 points behind the runners-up to complete the podium ahead of fourth-placed France. The defeat marked the first time the United States failed to win world team gold since losing to Russia in 2010. But were left to count the cost of several errors on the balance beam in Rotterdam, the USA last failed to win gold when they were beaten by Russia at the 2010 championships.
The American squad built a healthy lead through the halfway mark, driven by strong routines on vault and uneven bars from Skye Blakely, the sole returning athlete from the 2023 championship-winning team. However, costly mistakes on the balance beam changed the course of the final. Eighteen-year-old Caylor Dulcy stumbled to earn a score of 12.333, contributing to a gap of more than four points on the apparatus between the two nations. Scoring just 12.333, as the Americans were outscored by more than four points on the apparatus by their rivals, but 18-year-old Caylor Dulcy stumbled on the beam. Helped by strong vault and uneven bars routines by Skye Blakely, the only gymnast on the team who was part of the quintet that won their seventh consecutive title in 2023, the reigning champions took a healthy lead at the halfway stage.
China capitalized on the mistakes, led by Zhang Qingying, who topped beam qualifying and delivered a standout performance that earned 15.066 points. Despite a late push by the Americans on floor, Qiu’s final routine secured the victory. The U.S. roster was notably missing 23-time world champion Simone Biles, who holds five team world gold medals and is currently taking a break from competition following her three-gold performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Action at the championships continues Thursday in the Netherlands, where Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto will defend his men’s all-around crown against rival and fellow countryman, Olympic champion Shinnosuke Oka. Their matchup follows Japan’s victory in the men’s team final on Tuesday, where they edged out Russia and China for the title.
