Hezly Rivera repeats as U.S. gymnastics all-around champion

Hezly Rivera has won back-to-back U.S. all-around gymnastics titles for the first time since Simone Biles, reclaiming the crown with a powerful routine in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday night.

Rivera, 17, posted the highest scores on both vault and floor to finish 1.075 points ahead of runner-up Skye Blakely. It’s the first time a woman has repeated as U.S. all-around champ since Biles did it in 2018 and 2019. Rivera’s comeback follows a season of setbacks: a wrist injury in 2023 forced her to miss nationals, and a foot issue sidelined her again this spring. Her win signals a return to form just as selection for the 2024 World Championships looms.

The competition was tight until the final rotation. Rivera stuck the landing on her floor routine to secure the title, while Blakely, 19, posted the highest beam score but couldn’t close the gap. Third-place Josie Gabb didn’t qualify for the all-around final due to a fall on bars, highlighting the thin margins at the top. U.S. women’s national team coordinator Tom Forster called Rivera’s performance “exactly what we needed” ahead of Worlds, praising her consistency under pressure.

The U.S. will name its four-woman Worlds team after the October selection camp in Texas, where gymnasts will compete on all four apparatuses. Rivera’s repeat title makes her a lock for the squad if she stays healthy, but the battle for the fourth spot is wide open. Teammates like Shilese Jones and Simone Rose are pushing hard for inclusion, while veteran Jade Carey may need to rely on event finals to secure her place. How the team performs in October will shape their medal chances in the World Championships in Rotterdam.