2 months ago
PHOENIX — Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera had some ground to make up on the second and final day of the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships after an uncharacteristic fall on uneven bars left her in fourth place.
That's where her experience shined through. Rivera turned in a dazzling performance on Sunday, Aug. 9 to successfully defend her all-around **** le, finishing with a two-day combined score of 111.95, 1.15 points ahead of Claire Pease (110.8). Rivera also won the balance beam **** le and finished second overall on floor.
Charleigh Bullock (110.55) finished in third place, followed by Reese Esponda (108.9) in fourth and two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey (108.75) in fifth.
MORE: LA28 tops U.S. gymnastics phenom Hezly Rivera's list of unfinished business
A two-woman race between Rivera and Pease emerged entering the final two rotations on Sunday. And with Rivera and Pease being featured in the same group, both the competitors and fans in attendance at Mortgage Matchup Center could see where they stacked up against each other after each event.
#gymnastics #Gold #second
That's where her experience shined through. Rivera turned in a dazzling performance on Sunday, Aug. 9 to successfully defend her all-around **** le, finishing with a two-day combined score of 111.95, 1.15 points ahead of Claire Pease (110.8). Rivera also won the balance beam **** le and finished second overall on floor.
Charleigh Bullock (110.55) finished in third place, followed by Reese Esponda (108.9) in fourth and two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey (108.75) in fifth.
MORE: LA28 tops U.S. gymnastics phenom Hezly Rivera's list of unfinished business
A two-woman race between Rivera and Pease emerged entering the final two rotations on Sunday. And with Rivera and Pease being featured in the same group, both the competitors and fans in attendance at Mortgage Matchup Center could see where they stacked up against each other after each event.
#gymnastics #Gold #second
2 months ago
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 07: Hezly Rivera competes on the balance beam during the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Mortgage Matchup Center on August 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Hezly Rivera won the all-around ******* le at the 2026 U.S. Championships on Sunday in Phoenix, coming from behind to defeat teammate Claire Pease in a fierce battle that came down to the wire.
After falling from the uneven bars on day one, Hezly Rivera did not take the lead until the eighth and final rotation in Phoenix. Slowly chipping away, routine after routine, the defending U.S. Champion showed impressive mental endurance to clinch her second-straight championship.
With her win, the 18-year-old joins an elite club of American gymnasts who won multiple U.S. ******* les, including Olympic Champions Simone Biles, Shawn Johnson, and Nastia Liukin.
Four different athletes won the four individual events. U.S. Classic champion Reese Esponda claimed her first national ******* le on floor after a two-day masterclass. Olympic and World vault medalist Jade Carey claimed her third U.S. vault ******* le. Rivera defended her balance beam ******* le, while Claire Pease won her first U.S. ******* le, on uneven bars.
#rivera #august
Hezly Rivera won the all-around ******* le at the 2026 U.S. Championships on Sunday in Phoenix, coming from behind to defeat teammate Claire Pease in a fierce battle that came down to the wire.
After falling from the uneven bars on day one, Hezly Rivera did not take the lead until the eighth and final rotation in Phoenix. Slowly chipping away, routine after routine, the defending U.S. Champion showed impressive mental endurance to clinch her second-straight championship.
With her win, the 18-year-old joins an elite club of American gymnasts who won multiple U.S. ******* les, including Olympic Champions Simone Biles, Shawn Johnson, and Nastia Liukin.
Four different athletes won the four individual events. U.S. Classic champion Reese Esponda claimed her first national ******* le on floor after a two-day masterclass. Olympic and World vault medalist Jade Carey claimed her third U.S. vault ******* le. Rivera defended her balance beam ******* le, while Claire Pease won her first U.S. ******* le, on uneven bars.
#rivera #august
2 months ago
PHOENIX — As Reese Esponda prepared for the U.S. Classic gymnastics meet on July 19, a text came in from none other than Simone Biles.
"Good luck at classics babe," Biles wrote. "Just believe in yourself. Use your power as an advantage. Controlled power is everything."
Esponda was so ill that week that she almost withdrew before the meet. She had only resumed training five weeks earlier after spending part of the spring on crutches and in a boot with a left foot ligament injury.
Still, she made Biles proud that July night. The 17-year-old Montana native surprised herself and won Classic, the biggest victory of her young career.
Classic is the primary tune-up meet for the national championships. Seven times, Biles won Classic and nationals in the same summer.
#esponda
"Good luck at classics babe," Biles wrote. "Just believe in yourself. Use your power as an advantage. Controlled power is everything."
Esponda was so ill that week that she almost withdrew before the meet. She had only resumed training five weeks earlier after spending part of the spring on crutches and in a boot with a left foot ligament injury.
Still, she made Biles proud that July night. The 17-year-old Montana native surprised herself and won Classic, the biggest victory of her young career.
Classic is the primary tune-up meet for the national championships. Seven times, Biles won Classic and nationals in the same summer.
#esponda
