Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera captured her second consecutive U.S. all-around title at the championships in Phoenix. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Rivera posted strong scores on all four apparatuses (balance beam, floor exercise, vault, uneven bars) and totaled 118.450 points in the all-around. This is her second U.S. title, having won her first in 2025.
Claire Pease took second with 116.900, and Charleigh Bullock was third with 115.750. On the final day, Rivera scored 15.200 on beam and 14.850 on floor, outpacing her rivals.
The victory boosts Rivera's chances of qualifying for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. She is currently considered the leader of the U.S. team.
Other notable gymnasts competing included Skye Blakely, Jordan Chiles, and Sunisa Lee. Each performed well on individual events but could not surpass Rivera in the all-around.
Rivera's coach, Val Grigoriev, praised her preparation and endurance. "She is a true champion. Every routine shows her at a new level," he said.
USA Gymnastics president Liz Brown congratulated Rivera, calling her a source of national pride.
The next major competition is the World Championships, scheduled for October 2026 in Rotterdam. Rivera is considered the main favorite there.