U.S. Women Win Pan American Gymnastics Title, Men Hold On For Bronze

Team USA women won their second consecutive Pan American Championship in Rio de Janeiro with a score of 161.628, defeating Brazil and Canada. According to Forbes, the victory qualifies a full American team for the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam and the 2027 Pan American Games.

How did the U.S. women secure the gold medal?

The American women defeated host nation Brazil, which scored 157.796, and Canada, which finished with 156.997. The victory was led by the top-three all-around results of Charleigh Bullock, Claire Pease, and Simone Rose, according to Forbes.

The squad faced setbacks when rookie Lila Richardson withdrew due to injury. Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera also withdrew following a 13.400 score on vault due to a hamstring aggravation. Traveling alternate Alessia Rosa stepped in to contribute to the gold-medal effort.

Did You Know? The U.S. women’s victory in Rio de Janeiro marks the nation’s second consecutive Pan American Championship title.

What was the outcome for the U.S. men’s team?

The U.S. men won the bronze medal with a score of 235.961, according to Forbes. They finished behind Canada, which took gold with 243.026, and Colombia, which earned silver with 241.594.

This result is the lowest finish for the American men since the championships began in 1997. The team needed a top-four finish to qualify for the world championships, a goal they achieved despite several costly errors.

Team leader Yul Moldauer defended the squad against online criticism. “We qualified as a Team to world championships…we got the job done,” Moldauer said, noting the fighting spirit of the group.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that while the bronze medal is a historical low for the U.S. men, the primary stake was the qualification threshold. The risk of failing to qualify for the world championships would have been an unprecedented disaster for the program.

What happens next for Team USA in Rio?

Individual event finals will determine if the women can secure up to 10 medals. Charleigh Bullock, the top all-around qualifier, is set to compete for the overall title and in the beam and floor finals, Forbes reports.

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Claire Pease will compete in the individual all-around, vault, floor, and beam finals. Simone Rose qualified for the vault, bars, and beam finals but cannot compete in the all-around final due to the two-per-country rule.

The U.S. men will also compete in various finals. Yul Moldauer qualified for five of seven event finals, including vault. Other qualifiers include Kameron Nelson (vault), Riley Loos (rings and floor), Taylor Burkhart (high bar and parallel bars), and Patrick Hoopes (pommel horse).

Upcoming Senior Elite Schedule (ET)

Friday, June 19: Women’s All-Around Final (8:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.); Men’s All-Around Final (2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
Sunday, June 21: Men’s Floor (8:35 a.m.); Men’s Pommel Horse & Women’s Vault (9:10 a.m.); Men’s Still Rings & Women’s Uneven Bars (9:45 a.m.); Men’s Vault (10:20 a.m.); Men’s Parallel Bars & Women’s Balance Beam (10:55 a.m.); Men’s High Bar & Women’s Floor (11:30 a.m.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the 2026 World Championships be held?
The championships will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, this October.

Why is Simone Rose unable to compete in the individual all-around final?
Despite finishing third in the all-around total, she is excluded due to the two-per-country rule.

Which event is Patrick Hoopes’ specialty?
Patrick Hoopes, a world bronze medalist, specializes in the pommel horse.

Do you think the U.S. men’s team can bounce back from their lowest historical finish at the upcoming World Championships?